BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1930, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN TILE COMMONS

RESULT OF NAVAL CONFERENCE

{British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, April 16. A memorandum on the results cf ‘the Naval Conference to date in the form of a White Paper was laid in ■the Commons this evening. ■lt surj veys the main achievements of the 1 Conference and explains the resultant position, thus expressing in official form 'the facts already published. Precedence was given to a com- ' plete agreement between all live Powers not to lay down any of the 35,000 ton replacements ships during /the years 1931 to 1935 inclusive. The British Commonwealth, United States and Japan begin at once a reduction of, their capital ships to 15, 15, 9 respectively, while France and Italy , only reserve their right of constructing additional ships from the replace/ment tonnage available to them since the signature of- the Washington Treaty until to-day.

Details are. given of tonnages und.er agreement between British Commonwealth, United States and Japau and it is mentioned that this section of the Treaty will contain a clause safeguarding the British position in relation to building programmes of other'Powers. It is also noted that the 'agreed figure of 150,000 tons of destroyers for the British Commonwealth must be a condition on the agreed-destroyer and submarine strength of European Powers at the Conference 1 , and that this will be the. subject, of • further negotiations with those Pdwers.

Referring to the financial saving, the memorandum points out that but for the agreement at the Conference, Britain would have probably expended £40,000,000 'on battleship construction by 1936 and that further £4,000,000 would be saved by a reduction at once of British capital ships to 15. As to armament reduction at the unsuccessful Naval Conference at Geneva in 1927, the final British proposal; wris. for a combined total toiilili’ge of cruisers, 1 destroyers and sub,'marines, including over age vessels of 737,500 tons. - The comparable total agreed upon 'to-day is 541?,700 tons. Further expenditure in these classes of ships of at least £15,1X10,000 has been avoided.ui Considerable as are these materials the resulted memorandum regards 'as even ..more important mutual improvement of political relations which."-they imply and a hops is expressed -that during the next stage of -the. Conference, an agreement may be reached with the French and Italians*-- at levels which will permit incorporation of their programmes and figures in the agreement already reached between the three other Powers.

. Replying to a question in the Commons Mr A.-’:V.. Alexander (First, Lord of the . Admiralty) stated that under the rules for the replacement' agreed upon , the- Naval CLnfhrence to ships of the Hawkins class will have reached the age at which they might be replaced ( in,. 1934 and 1935 respectively. It had been agreed that the remaining two cruisers, completion. of which was delayed owing to the conditions following the war, might be replaced in 1936. r LONDON, April 16.

Mr Lloyd George continued Mr Churchill had not provided for the expenditure to which he had committed the country and had piled up a deficit for 1931 on the gamble of the restoration of trade. Mr Churchill was the first Chancellor who had deliberately bequeathed . a deficit to his successor. Mr Snowden was now paying for his predecessor’s gambling debts. Mr Snowden replying to the debate said the Opposition seemed to think that all money taken in taxation was thrown down the sink. He most profoundly believed that Labours unemployment scheme had saved the country from revolution. With regard to the new death' duties it was time profiteering fortunes were now coming in for estates duties. “I am going to get some of the hack he declared.

The budget resolution was agreed to without division.

INTERESTING QUESTIONS

. LONDON. April 16. In the Commons Mr Dalton stated the ex-imnerial Russian Government’s debt to Britain at 31st. of March 1930 with interest, totalled 962,’millions sterling. In addition, private claims totalled 355 million. Mr Alexander in answer to Mr Kenworthy said the tonnages of British. American and Japanese cruisers built, and under twenty years of ace were British Empire 327 thousand. United States Do| thousand, Japan 166.1 thousand,. Mr Kenworthy, agreed upon at the Naval Conference won’t all these figures except British be increased, the American very substantially ?” Mr Alexander—“ That is putting the results of the conference in a. roost unfair light.’’ . Mr Kemvortliv—“Am I not the best judge of the fairness of the rmestion. seeing the Conference was (-.ailed for the limitation of armaments.” Mr Alexander—“ The reduction limitation proceeded to such an extent that last week Mr Hoover said it would save America, two hundred millions.” Mr Wedgwood Behti said the Bengal Government reported the situation in Calcutta, was now quiet. He was satisfied with the local Government’s ability to control tile situation. . Mr Lloyrl George discussing the budget, said expenditure mattered more than taxation, but Mr Snowden

faced the expenditure like a man. The Chancellor was responsible for the greater part of tli c deficit.

IN THE COMMONS.

(Received tin’s day at 8 a.m.)

LONDON, April 17

In the House of Common,s, on the motion lor adjournment Fenner Brockway urged the speeding up of the publication of the Simon report on India and a declaration by the .Government of their intention to carry out the noliev of self Government dominion status.

Mr Kenworthy said all that could at present be dene was to .support the Government of India on the steps taken to preserve peace. They must not be stampeded into a panic action.

Mr Lansbnrv in the absence of Mr Wedvwood Bonn, said the Egyptian Conference and situation in India were most difficult.

M'- Wedgwood Bonn said the Viceroy would do his utmost to secure a settlement.

Mr Kenworthy inquired in view of the Three Power Treaty whether it was proposed to proceed with tlio new Singapore base, esnecially the provision •for facilities for docking battleships.

Mr Alexander said the matter need he carefully reviewed in the light of the treaty without delay and full consultation of the dominions.

Mr Kenworthy—Has not the position been altered by the announcement that Government looks to the eventual disappearance of battleships?

Mr Benn—What is the use of proceeding with battleship docks. Altogether there was no useful purpose at present in discussing that? Mr Kenworthy—Can we he assured that useless expenditure will be averted under the Labour Government’s policy?

Mr Churchill—Do we understand that there will lie no alteration of the policy until after the Imperial Conference? Mr Alexander did not say that but a.s soon as the Naval Conference is over we will consider full consultation of the Dominions.