Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-11-17
Oxford Lafayette County Mss Thursday November II 1921

communications protected, COM
pletely protected-from any con-
Iceivable hostile attack.
! at is not merely that you have
110,000,0O0 people, it is not that you
are the wealthiest nation. The
geographical sposition of your. coun-
try makes you wholly immune from
the perils toEwhiciAthe British en-
pire is subjected.
England Dependent.
Suppose your Western states
were suddenly removed 5000 miles
across tie sea; suppose you found
that the heart of your country was
small and crowGed island depend
| ing on overseas trade, depending on
overseas communication for raw
materials. Suppose your popula-
tion never had more than seven
weeks food and that this had to
be replenished from overseas.
"Then you will understand why
! it is that every citizen of the Brit
ish empire, no matter where he
lives, never can forget that it is
| by sea communication that he lives
and that without it he can not
| live"
! Mr.. Balfour said he did not want
| the audience to suppose that he
was lamenting over the weakness of
my country"
"Far from it," he explained with
emphasis. eve are strong in hope
and in the ardent patriotism that
binds us together. But this STRAIT
egic weakness, obvious to everyone
who reflects, is known to our enc
mics. Then, do not let it be for
gotten by our friends.
"Theses references | have INDUCED
in to explain why / am addressing
you. We have considered the great
scheme laid before you by our
chairman. We have considered it
with admiration and approval. We
agree with it in spirit and in prin-
ciple. We look to it as being the
basis of the greatest reform in the
matter of armament and .prepara-
ton for war that has ever been con-
| ceiyed or ce rried ont
Land Forces Untouched.
II don't pretend, of course that
this or any other scheme can deal
with every subject. As was most
clearly explained ! by the secretary
of state, the scheme deals and deals
only with the three nations which
own the largest fleets at present
in the world. It, therefore, of ne
cessity onlits all consideration foi
the time being of the European sna-
tions who have diminished thei1
fleets and have at present no de-
sire, and | hope never will have a
desire, to possess fleets beyond the
necessities that national honor and
national defense require. 1t does
not touch the heavy burden of land
armament. What it does do, is one
of the biggest things that has ever
yet been done by constructive
craftsmanship. It does deal with
the three great fleets of the world
and with the proportion of disarm-
ament which it lays down for those
fleets.
Taking the battleships as q
basis" said Mr.. Balfour, i've thlnk
the propositions between the vafi-
Gus countries is acceptable. Ne
think the. limitation of amounts Is
/ reasonable. We think it should be
accepted. We believe thoroughly
lit will be accepted"
Reduce Submarines.
| Mr.. Balfour suggested that the
l'submarine tonnage might well be
reduced and that possibly con
struction of large submarines
lshould be prohibited.
The suggestions for changes II
the proposals, Mr.. Balfour said
amid applause, would not affect
"the main structure" proposed by
the United States, which he said ne
believed, would be accepted.
i When Mr.. Balfour promised the
"full, loyal and complete co-opera
ton" Of the British nation toware
the general American plan, the au'
dience rose and applauded for
! half minute.
!, "At first glance" said Mr.. Bal
-four, "our experts think that tor
large an amount of tonnage has
lbeen permitted for submarines
They were the most abused agenc,
Iof the war. The submarine is de
i fensive weapon of the weak. I