COST OF ARMAMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1931, Page 6

COST OF ARMAMENTS

BRITISH DEMONSTRATION

IN FAVOUR OF A CUT,

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, July 10,

The Prime. Minister, Mr It; MacDonald, who has been taking a short rest at Chequers Court, returns to London to-morrow to speak, an company with Mr .Baldwin, and IMr Lloyd George at the great demonstration in the afternoon at the Albert Hall, organised by the British League of Nations’ Union and other Peace Societies in favour of international action for the reduction of armaments and the success of the next year’s World Disarmament Conference.

Field-Marshal 'Sir .William [Robertson will preside. The Albert Hall holds 10,000 people, but the speeches will be relayed to a vast open-air meeting at Hyde Park, as well as to audiences at Leeds, Hull and other .towns. Arrangements have also been made for broadcasting the proceedings in the United States apd several other countries, and a tailring film will be made, which will be .shown in 26 countries, besides at the cinemas throughout Britain.

LONDON, July il

The demonstration in favour of a reduction of armaments was held at the Albert Hall. !

.Apart from the timely detection and ejection of a middle-aged woman ’ who was seated at the press table, and who supplied stink bombs, two of which broke at the feet of the Prime Minister, .Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and Mr Lloyd George, and the suppression of one pair of vociferous cranks who cheered Russia, .and advocated international police, the. Peace Army’s demonstration at the Hall was devoid of any unseemly incident. The procession of thousands, with banners flying, . extended for half a mile along the Thames embankment. They marched to Hyde Park to military music under a circling aeroplane. Surpliced clergy were among those who tool? and there was a group of girls, with national standards, whicn represent 56 countries. There were also many white-robed members of women's organisations. Sir William Robertson presided at the Albert Hall. The audience was one of ten thousand.

The meeting unanimously passed a resolution welcoming the Disarmament Conference, and urging the Government to make the utmost endeavours to reduce the world's armies, navies and »air force's. . . „ The audience included nmWs-do'**. diplomats, the Dominion High Commissioners, and the Agents-Generals. •Mr Ramsay MacDonald., in his speech, said that those who insisted on an increase of 1 armaments were inducing an. lArmegeddon which would almost annihilate mankind. Mr : S, Baldwin declared that the world needed the help of the United States in reconciling disarmaments with national interests.

iMr Lloyd George pointed out tliat some Powers made Germany keep her promise of disarmament, but broke their own. He asserted, that the world was steadily, stupidly and stolidly marching to a catastrophe, singing songs of peace, but preparing for war. Lord Cecil urged Britain to make the disarmament policy clear .to the world.

The programme of the demonstration announced that the world was spending two millions sterling every day on armaments, and that Britain’s share of this expenditure was two hundred pounds per minute.

GERMANY OBJECTS. TO ANY STOPPAGE. LONDON, July 11. The French newspapers unanimously insist that, while France would like to assist Germany, she must have both financial and political guarantees. The Berlin newspapers are unanimous regarding the suggestion that Germany must now cease her warship construction, which suggestion has been met with such a storm -of opposition that, if carried out, it would probably cause the downfall of the Bruening .Cabinet. The “Lokal Anzeiger” protests against what it terms Mr Henderson /(British Foreign Minister) playuig (France's game by encouraging her political blackmailing demands in regard to the cessation of warship construction. FRANCE’S POLICY. / PARIS, July IT). A 'Cabinet meeting under the presidency of M. Doumer drafted a new important memorandum on armaments, which M. Brian d. is sending to the League. It is expected. to arouse great interest in European capitals, because it stresses the necessity for France maintaining the strongest Army, .'Navy and Air Force.. in Europe, with the object of guaranteeing her own security, as well as forming a principal force guaranteeing 'Europe’s peace. ,