IMPRACTICABLE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 3 December 1927, Page 5

IMPRACTICABLE

SOVIET DISARMAMENT PROPOSALS “FANTASTIC TALK." LORD CECIL S VIEWS. [British Official Wireless.) (Received 3, 11.30 a.m.) Rugby Dec. 2. Lord Cecil, in an interview with the “Daily News," summarily dismissed the Russian disarmament proposal as impracticable. Lord Cecil says: “My opinion, quite shortly, is that proposals of that kind are not serious. It is quite fantastic to talk about destroying the world’s armaments in four ydars. It is not business." ALREADY DISARMED. BRITAIN’S VOLUNTARY REDUCTIONS. (Received 3, 11.30 a.m.) Rugby, Dec. 2. This afternoon at Geneva, Lord Cushendun, the British representative to the League of Nations, said the. British policy on disarmament had in no way changed. “On the contrary,’’ he declared, “we are inclined to sav to the other countries who have approached us on this subject that we have already disarmed. We effected our disarmament immediately after the war and now we have not much to offer. After the war Great Britain possessed unquestionable supremacy of the sears mere than ever sine© the Battle of Trafalgar—but as soon as the war was over we immediately scrapped—rather too hurriedly 1 am inclined to think—between 1.750 000 and 2,000,00 tons of ships. We’did this not merely from our desire to realise economies but also so that we might dispense with al] offensive forces except those strictly necessary. e also abandoned two arsenals and two naval bases. We cut down the personnel of our Navy and practically scrapped our air services with the result, that- a few years later we had to resuscitate our air army once more. Our Army, which was always, numerically a “Contemptible Little Army,” was further reduced, obligatory service was abolished and we have reduced the armed forces to the level of an Imperial police force, such as it necessary—as exemplified in the recent crisis in China—for the protection of British lives and property throughout the world.

"We are ready to prove that we have disarmed and if we had not done so we should now be in a position to offer a reduction of 2,600 000 tons in the Navy and a rigid reduction of ths air service, but we cannot do it now. In other words, wo have already voluntarily done ufiat we are asking other nations to do now.” Speaking on the work of the security commission, which adjourned this morning to assemble, very probably, on February 20 next, Lord Cushendun stated that he was perfectly satisfied with the questions which had been referred to the bureau of the commission in order that, a set of resolutions for next meeting be drafted. He added: “We have now really outlined the basis of discussion."