LEAGUE’S FUTURE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 311, 17 December 1936, Page 5

LEAGUE’S FUTURE

NEW ZEALAND PLAN. DEEMED IMPRACTICABLE. Questions Asked In House Of Commons. Pre s s Assoc i a t i o n —C o py’r igh t. (Received 11 a.m. To-day). London, December 16. Questioned, by. Mr A. E. Mander in the Mouse of Commons, Mr Eden said tlie New Zealand Government l had informed the British Government

of its intention to sol. out its- views on Hie League covenant. The British Government was not. consulted as regards the terms of the memorandum. While they were in. agreement with certain of the main principles enunciated, they knew that, the Government of New' Zealand in the event of their proposals being regarded as not immediately practicable, would, not demur if consideration was postponed or if consideration 1 was given to alternative proposals. The Brush Government did not consider the proposals for an international force under League control or tlie allocation to the League of a definite proportion of the aimed forces of its members to be practicable at present. Mr Mander; Do T understand, there.' is a difference of opinion in the British commonwealth of nations as regards League polcy? Would, not it be possible by consultation to arrive at an agreed policy? Mr Eden; 1 have slated that we are not concerned with these proposals. There are, of course, different views about the future of the covenant between the Dominions and even between the members of ths House.

SHORT OF CRUISERS.

Serious Position Revealed In British Navy. Press Association —Copyright. (Received 10 a.m. To-day). London, December 16. Attention is again directed to the shortage of Cruisers whi’ch Mr Hector Bywater, the Telegraph’s naval expert say’s is the lowest since the eighties. Scrapping live C Class cruisers at the end of the year under treaty obligations will leave only 44 completed crisers plus Australia s four, but only 26, of these are postwar ships. At the beginning of the year the Empire will have only 35 ships under the official age limit of 16 years. Sixteen ships are at present being built or are projected, but before they are completed, live existing vessels will be obsolete, leaving by' 193!) only 46 under the age. House o-f Commons that he was placing orders for new machinery for the orders for new machinery for the warships Valiant and Queen Elizabeth and inviting tenders for capital ships for .the 1937 programme.

Businessman’s Impulse lo Jump From Building.

Press Association—Copyright. New York, December 16. A retired merchant aged 67 s.iood for an hour to-day on an eight-inch ledge at the top of a 18-storey building resisting an unexplainable impulse' to jump. Two thousand watched horrifielid in the street below. Police ami firemen were helpless until the man accepted tlie offer of a cigarette, and lie was overpowered when he returned to the roof to get