BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1928, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

(British Official Wireless.) LONDON, Nov. 13. Sir .1 olim (iil llloll r, in answer to questidns, said: “The Government did not intend to add to l'l>,ooo already paid to Oscar. Slater,” (who appealed sucessfully alter serving a long sentence on a charge of murder.) Mr Day said: “ Are- you aware it cost him nearly that sum to obtain the inquiry into the conduct ol the case?” Sir John Gilmour: “ 1 did not know the amount of his costs.” RUGBY, Nov. 13. Mr Baldwin made a statement in the Commons to-day on the Anglo-French cinpromise. It was a reply to Nil’ Lloyd George, who had moved an amendment to the Address-in-Reply to the King’s Speech, that the House considered the compromise endangered the prospects of peace in Europe and good relations with the United States. He regretted the abandonment of the principle of limitations of small submarines and cruisers, and considered the base of naval discussions should bo the extension of the Washington Treaty to all classes .of combatant ships, and that exclusion of reservists from computation of French military strength was contrary to the spirit both of the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno. Mr Baldwin said the compromise was no more than a perfectly honest and straightforward attempt to get out of the deadlock which had occurred at Geneva. The Government had been strongly criticised on the ground they had made concessions to France and conferred some immunites upon her. In Franco they hold the view that il every man had to go and fight when war began, masses ol people would be less inclined to think about war and statesmen would think twice belore they ordered them to go and fight.

11 Guarding the criticism that the coni]) mm iso was directed against otlier countries, especially the United States, yi r Baldwin pointed out that telegrams despatched to the United States Secretary of State at the beginning of August emphasised that the agreement was not a treaty and that it was being submitted to the United States in order that they should consider its terms and give their considered observations and any suggestion. A similar message was sent to Italy and later to Germany. They wanted to see the evacuation of the Phinola nd, hut they could not compel evacuation. and if we walked out how would it advance that object by one step? Tt might cause greater difficulties. He thought there was a real hope that before long this matter might he settled by the committees now being set up dealing with relations with France. The Prime Minister spoke of MacDonald's policy in 1924 regarding disarmament. when he wrote that it was the policy which could bo initiated if France and England were agreed. AYhen MacDonald was in office he never wavered in the application of that method of dealing with the European situation, and his efforts were successful. The present Government did not mean to deviate from the policy which they bad tried to pursue ever since they had been in office, which so far as its cordial understanding of tin' French was concerned, was the same as had been pursued by MacDonald. Mr Baldwin concluded with reference to the statement made by President Coolidge that it was always plain that Europe and the United States lacked a mutual understanding. He thought President Coolidge was right, although meetings at Geneva had to some extent improved matters. The American statesmen did not know the European statesmen nor did the European statesmen know the American Statesman and there was no personal intercourse, the only intercourse being written despatches j.scnt across three thousand miles of water. T.n those circumstances it was far more difficult to got a mutual understanding to the demands of the House of Com m nos. He pointed out to all who spoke on America or on our relations with America to study mid understand the politioil system of the United States ;is it was so different from any of the European systems and on one ol these differences relations had been wrecked more than once. ft was most important for the avoidance of future shipwrecks thal we should he familiar on this side with the difference in the systems ol the two countries. The Prime Minister concluded amic the cheers of the House.

LLOYD GEORGE'S OPINION. (Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON. November Kb Llovd George in the House of ('ominous said the basis ol British loreign policy should he friendship and cooperation lietween all nations on the basis or the League Covenant and tine Kellogg Pact. The real test of the Locarno Treaty was the progress of disarmament. whereon the Anglo-1 1 reach agreement was a sinister comment. He had been told it had all been dropped, but surely the House had something to say. lie had a suspicion that America was eliminated. Anyone imagining so had better read President Coolidge's speech and his announcement of building fifteen cruisers. 'Hint ivas one effeet of the Anglo-French ' agreement. Prance was clearly undei that impression we are bound bv the principles of the Pact. -Mr Baldwii had declared . the pact supplcmentet Locarno, but the keystone there was the refusal to evacuate the Rhineland ■ although hound thereto the moment • Germany was fulfilling the obligations • On the contrary the signatory power: increased their armaments. He though

ho could demonstrate our armaments had increased (Almisterial cries “No. prove it.”). The Air Force figures had certainly increased. A good understanding with America was more important than almost with any country, because peace would depend thereon. Anyone’ assuming an Anglo-American conflict was possible should be treated as a dangerous lunatic. The only tiling to do was to get back to Earl Balfour’s Washington policy. Mr Baldwin should make it clear lie had abandoned the Anglo-French pact, both in the letter and in the spirit. The Russian disarmament proposition should not have been treated as a laughing matter. AYhen she economically recovered she would be a H’ormidable factor with almost limitless power. There could be no peace in Europe until tho allies carried out their disarmament obligations.