BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN THE COMMONS. NAVAL REDUCTIONS. LORD LLOYD RESIGNS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. The Prime Minister, Mr J. R. MacDonald, in a statement in the Commons op naval negotiations, stated the Ministry had decided to suspend the construction of two cruisers, and cancel contracts for one depot ship and two submarines, slow down dockyard work and other naval construction. He added that as soon as an AngloAmerican agreement was reached, other powers would be invited to a preliminary conference. Mr MacDonald added that Singapore base would be included in the special survey of the naval position. Rt. Hon. A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary) announced that Lord Lloyd had resigned the High Commissionership of Egypt. He had previously written to Lord / Lloyd, based on his reading of Lord Lloyd’s attitude towards the policy of the late Government.

Hon, W.-Churchill: “ Was the resignation extorted?”

Mr Henderson: “My telegram was of such a character as to be accepted as an invitation to'terminate: his position.” .-

MR MACDONALD ' MAKES NAVAL STATEMENT. > (Received this day at 11.25. a.m.) ! RUGBY, July 24. Mr MacDonald in Parliament to-day said lie was pow in a position to make a statement of the immediate intentions of the Government regarding the naval building programme. ' The Government’s general position was that the defence of the country must be devised with two main considerations in view. Firstly, the chances of defences having to be used, their efficiency and economy shown and their magnitude and character. The Government had kept in view the change in policy and problem of national security as affected by the Peace Pact. If that pact was to be made effective, •the influence of international relations to make it so was the controlling purpose of the Government arid the systematic policy being developed which would take a little time to complete or carry out that intention. 1 '' J '•

It was well known that in the midst of.the multifarious concerns which the formation of, a new Government entailed, specially in view of the pressing and complicated nature of its tasks, conversations had been carried on between the United States and the new Government, for the purpose of opening the way for an agreement on naval matters, which hitherto had defied settlement.

By a happy coincidence the new Government’s assumption of office had corresponded with the arrival of a new American Ambassador, General Dawes, who had come here charged with the mission of preparing the ground for international agreements on a reduction of naval armaments.

Already the; whole field of those diffir, culties with ,the United States had been surveyed and the two Governments had, made a, ifresh start in their solutions. •

We agreed upon the principles of parity, said Mr MacDonald. We agreed without in any departing from the condition of parity that a measure of elasticity can he allowed so as to meet the peace requirements of nations. We arranged that we shall not allow technical points to override great public issues, resulting in our being able to come to a settlement.

He proposed to make this matter his immediate concern as soon as other business had been disposed of. His visit to the President of the United States was the subject of conversations so that it might take place when it would be most useful to promote good relations between the two countries and in particular advance the cause of disarmament and peace, which they held in common. ■- It had to fit in with certain international conversations and October at present seemed the most likely month.

A committee on co-ordination of the three services for the purpose of Cabinet consideration had been set up, and if that combination were not comprehensive enough to meet “requirements of such a policy, the Foreign Office was also to be represented on it. As regard the 1929-1930 programme, in any event the committments would have to be entered into before the autumn and no steps would be taken to proceed with it until the matter had received further consideration. The Government recognised that a reduction of the naval building programme must have a direct effect on employment in the dockyards, hut he was glad to say as the result of special re-arrangements suggested by the Admiralty, it was hoped to be able to secure the absorption of a large amount of labour, which would otherwise he discharged from the Royal dockyards. Representatives of dockyard labour would at once he consulted. “ We are indebted to the Board of the Admiralty for the help which they have rendered, and T desire to state that having expressed their technical view on the minimum arrangements which they considered necessary, they furnished us with loyal help in achieving the objects with the least possible dislocation and hardship.” Mr MacDonald added: “I ought to say, to make the statement complete,

that it was recognised by all powers concerned that a preliminary agreement on Anglo-American differences is essential on naval building. Powers represented at Washington in 1921-1922 had been informed df the conversations and as soon as the way was clear they will be invited to a preliminary conference, so that we may all come together and try to come to an agreement of a comprehensive character, the final agreement to he ratified at a place which I hope will, by common consent, be chosen by the United States as a recognition of the splen&l part played by its President in these discussions. It will then be reported to the Preparatory Commission of the League of Nations as a contribution to its work. Concluding, the Prime Minister said it would be the Government’s care and desire to put ttieir energy into the settlement without unnecessary delay. Asked if the minimum requirements as stated by the Board of Admiralty were fully met by the reduced programme which the Government proposed to carry out, Mr MacDonald said: “ 1 have not the least doubt whatever that in an - agreement with the United States the minimum requirements put to us will he adequately covered.” Replying to Mr Lloyd George, Mr MacDonald assured him that as the conversations with the United States proceeded the effect and general result of them would he given to all the Powers that would ultimately be concerned.