BRITISH POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 25 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

LCRD LLOYD

HOUSE OF COMMONS COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT TO ASSIST BRITISH EMPLOVMENI (British Oiliciul Wireless.) RUOBV, 23rd .July. Mr Shaw, Secretary for War. .said in ilic House of Commons iliul tin! question lit' the number of troops in China was engaging Llio attention of (lie liovciniiient, but 11<> conclusion hail yet been reached. There was no intention of in creasing the imiiiljor of battalions in China in. tin; near future. Mr Shaw also staled thai all questions connected with Singapore were under consideration. What garrisons would he required for the new defences had not yet been designed. Lord l'asslield, Secretary for _ the Colonies, moved the second reading of the Colonial Development Hill, which provides for the establishment of a Colonial Development Fund. The fund will he fed by an annual grant frojn Parliament of such amount as may he required, not exceeding £1,000,000 in any year. Advances from the fund will bo made to colonial governments mi the recommendation of an advisory committee, which Lord Passfield said would be absolutely impartial. It would be a business committee, and there would be no attempt to make it either a Treasury or a Colonial Office committee. The principal motive of the measure was connected with the lamentable condition of employment in this country. It was hoped to stimulate the British export trade by accelerating passible developments of Crown colonies, protectorates, and dependencies The measure was welcomed by lords on both sides of the House. The total liumher of unemployed on 15tb duly was 1,135,700 being 7546 less than the week before and 110,7.10 less than a year hefore. NAVALMATTERS CONSTRUCTION TO BE CURTAILED (Australian Press Association.—United Service) (Received 25th July, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON", 24th July. Mr MacDonald, in a statement in the House of Commons on naval negotiations, stated that the Ministry had decided to suspend the construction of two cruisers and to cancel the contracts for one depot ship and two submarines, and to slow down dockyard work and other naval construction. ,He added that as soon as an Anglo-American agreement had been reached . other powers would be invited to a preliminary conference. Mr MacDonald added that Singapore base would be included in a special survey of the naval position. (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 24th July. Mr MacDonald in Parliament to-day-said he was now in a position to make a statement as to .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 v i e \ V _fi r st!y, the chances of the defences having to be used, then ellicieficy and economy shown in their magnitude and character. The Government had kept in view the change in policy, and the problem of national security as affected by the Peace Pact if that Pact was to be made effective. To influence international relations to make it so was the controlling purpose of the Government, and a systematic policy was being developed which would take a little time to complete to cany out that intention. PREPARING THE GROUND It was well known, that in the midst of multifarious concerns which the formation of a new Government entailed, especially in view of the pressing and complicated nature of its tasks, conversations had been actively carried on between the United States and the new Government for the purpose of opening a 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. Mr Dawes, who had come here charged with the mission of preparing the ground for international agreements on the reduction of naval armaments. Already the whole field of those difficulties with the United States had been surveyed, and the two Governments had made a fresh start in their solution. "We are agreed upon the principle of parity/' said Mr MacDonald. "We are agreed, without in any way departing from the condition of parity, that a measure of elasticity can be allowed so as to meet the peace requirements of the nations. We. have arranged that we shall not allow technical points to override great public, issues, resulting in our being able to come to a settlement." lie proposed to make this mutter 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 unci peace which tliev held in common. It had to fit in with certain international conversations, and October at present seemed the most likely month. CO-ORDINATION OF SERVICES A committee oil the co-ordination of the three services For the purpose of Cabinet consideration had been set up, and if ilia! combination was not comprehensive enough to meet the requirements of such a policy the foreign office would also be represented on ii. As regarded the 1929-1930 programme, in any event no commitments 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, n reduction in the naval building programme must have a direct effect on employment in the dockyards, bin he was glad to. say, as a result of special rearrangements suggested by the Admiralty, it was hoped In be able 1m secure the absorption of a largo amount of labour which would at once be consulted. "We are indebted to the Boaid of Admiralty for the help il rendered, and I desire to stall' that having expressed its technical view on the minimum armaments which il considered to be necessary " Furnished ns with h val help in achieving objects with the least possible dislocation and hardship." Mr -MacDonald added: "1 oiighl lo say. to make my statement complete. that ii was reec-gin'so'd by all the powers concerned thai, a preliminary agreement on Anglo-American differences wns.es .senlial. All the navel building powers J represented at Washington in 192] 1922 j had In en informe i of the eonversatii us. I and as soon as the way is clear they '■ will he invited lo a preliminary center enee so that we may all together Irv lo come to an agreemi'iil i.'f a comprehensive character. The final agreement | will be ratified at a place which 1 hope •t\ ill by consent, be chosen by the

United States as recognition of the splendid part played by it.-- President in these discussions. It will then be reported to the Preparatory Commission (••I the League of Nations as a contribution to its work." Concluding, the Prime Minister said it. would be tho Uovernment's care and desire to put its energy into a settlement without unnecessary dilay. Asked if the minimum requirements as stated by the Board of Admiralty were Fuily met by the reduced programme which the Government pro posed lo carry out, Mr MacDonald said: "1 have not" the lea ■( doubt whatever that in agreement with tho United State,.; the minimum requirements put up It. ns will be adequately covered." Replying to Mr Lloyd George, Mr MacDonald assured him thai as the conversations with the United Stairs proreeded the effect and general result of them would be given lo all powers that would ultimately be concerned.

"INVITATION" TO KK<!i'\" (Rceeivi'il 251 h .Tnlv, 9.30 a.m.] LONDON. Mill .iulv. Mr Henderson MiiiiKiiiKTil lluil Li rd '!.!• v.l ha.l resigned Ll !( . Ml ; .i, (\,tiiinis sii'i'n !'hh!|! uf Ivjvpl. I!,, had piTvimislv u/illen in l.'-i-.l LI. yd, hased (,n Id's niadiny i f I. n'd Lloyd's altitude Inwards ih- :,: In v <■!' th« In'fi- ( lovcrnniont. Mr Churi'liill : "Was tlm resisjiuilion ivNtirtl.-.r;' .Mr Henderson : "My telegram was of such a i-liuriu lev as to he accepted as an invitation to terminate Lis position.*d