Evening star., 1924-04-23
COOLIDGE SPEECH
HIGHLY APPROVED
BYBR|T|Si1LEADERS
Premier Macdonald Expect
ed to Give Staunch Support
to Disarmament Plans.
LONDON PRESS Halls
ADDRESS AS GOOD NEWS
England Welcomes Proposal, See
ing Hope for Reduction
of Taxes.
BY The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press.
LONDON, April 23.-President Cool
idge'ss speech at the luncheon of the
Associated Press in New York yes
terday has been very favorably re-
ceived here both by the press and
by the officials of the Macdonald la
fsor government
1t Is expected the prime minister
himself will take the earliest op-
portunity to proclaim his wholeheart-
ed support of the American Execu-
eve's proposed conference for fur
ther world disarmament.
MIR. Macdonald is in Wales, taking
his first real holiday since the labor
partyS rise to power. He is far away
from crowds and newspapers, and
orders have been issued that he is
not to be disturbed with official busi-
ness during the few days rest he is
having before going to Windsor for
his first visit at the kings home. 1t
was stated in Downing street this
morning, however, that President
Coolidge'S speech undoubtedly found
its way to the prime minister as soon
as 1t arrived in England for such an
announcement from the President has
oeen eagerly awaited ever since he took
Office.
Possible Delay.
When the time comes for formal
invitations to a second world dis
armament conference, to which Amer
lca has given the lead, the answer
from Great Britain will be forthcom-
ing as readily and as spontaneously
as when the first call was issued by
President Harding, according to OBJ
servers IN close touch with the Mac
Donald government. Although the
Presidents reservation that further
world disarmament depends upon a
definite reparation settlement Will nat
urally result in delay, perhaps in pro-
longed delay, British officials are anx-
IQnS to see even in this coupling of
disarmament and reparation problems
further evidence of American efforts
to lend Il helping hand to Europe
whenever possible.
The prospect of a disarmament con-
ference and consequent escape from
the heavy costs of armies and air
forces as soon as the reparation prob
lem is settled should cause the Eu-
rol can countries, to strive more
gtrenuously to take full advantage
of the new road to a final war set
Element, which was opened UP by the
Dawes report, according to British
Officials. 1t is pointed out here that
Premier MacDonald's prompt decision
TO abandon the Singapore naval base
scheme, despite tho strongest opposi
tion at home and from the colonies,
is an indication of the support Amer
lea would obtain from the present
, RritiShs government in planning fur
ther disarmament.
Want Smaller Air Force.
The limitation of air armadas
would be Great Britain'S special in
terest at such a conference, but it is
-tated that when the issue is that of
destruction of war machines Mr.. Mac
Donald will be likely to adopt a ruth-
less policy and scrap airplanes, sub
marines and soldiers to as near the.
last man and war implement as pos
sible.
President Coolidge's promise of ef
forts looking to another conference
on armament Limitation, made in his
speech at the luncheon of the AS
sociated Press in New York Yesterday.
ts featured in the leading news col
umns today.
The editorial writer's hail it as good
news of the highest Importance. The
Presidents declaration that efforts to
bring about such 4 conference must
be predlcated on a definite settlement
of the German reparation problem is
duly noted, together with hi, approval
of the report of the reparatioa ey-
pertS under Brig. Gen. Dawes
The papers express hope that if the
conference materializeS II will aim
at an agreement for the protection of
civilian populations from aerial war
fare.