DISARMAMENT QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1921, Page 2

DISARMAMENT QUESTION

BEFORE UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE. ■

(Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 8

The Senate Naval Committee will submit a report to tlie Senate disapproving of Mr Borah’s disarmament resolution, 'and declaring the present American naval programme should be continued, capital ships being an efficient fighting unit. Sir Philip Gibbs, testifying before the Naval Committee, stated Great Britain would not undertake a naval race with the United States. England neither has the money nor considers the' - ' American Navy a menace. An invitation from the United States for disarmament would be welcomed by the people- of Great Britain, although some sections of th<e Government oppose the general idea of disarmament. According to a report from London Sir A. Geddes is returning to the United States on 14th FebruarjrNvTth the British proposals for a world conference on disarmament. m Tlie report has not caused surprise in official circles, for it was understood Sir A. Geddes was suddenly called to London in order to discuss the question with lion Lloyd George. JAPANESE MOTION. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) TOIvIO, Feb. 8. Ogaki, the former Leader of the Opposition Party, has announced he will independently introduce a resolution in the Diet proposing the curtailing of naval armaments. The measure will ask Japan to communicate with the United States and England, and to decide the best way to restrict naval programmes. BRITAIN AND AMERICA. NEW YORK, Feb. 8. > Some of the newspapers are piinting sensational cablegrams from London, reporting tho audience which -American correspondents have had at the British Foreign Office with high British diplo-

mats. One, whose name is not revealed, lias declared it to be inconceivable that the United States and Britain, whereon so much depends, should drift towards a breach, and become involved in war. “Yet,” he said, “that was the path they were treading.” It is stated hero that the statement is preposterous and that official circles ridicule the possibility of a war, between the United States and Britain.