Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-24
BRITAIN ABANDONS
NAVAL PROJECTS
Work on Two Cruisers Is
HaIted-MacOonaId Plans
October U. S. Trip.
Continued From First Psge.)

'NOnGlnueQ from flrSJ HaRe.)
The statement of the first lord of the
admiralty was made in reply to a
question whether it was the Labor gov
ernment'S intention to rule out entire
ly the United States as possible
enemy.
Sir Austin, then British secretary
OF foreign affairs, on February 8. 1928,
declared in the House of Commons that
war with America was unthinkable and
that the prospect of war with America
or preparations for war with America
had never been and never would be the
basis OF British policy. The foreign
minister was discussing arbitration.
British shipbuilding, he said, was not
competitive and Great Britain's pro-
to necessary protection of British
interests.
Celebrating on his naval arms an
nouncement, Macdonald said:
Il am now in a position to make a
statement BIS to the immediate inten-
tons of the government regarding the
naval building program.
Two Main Considera tions.
THE governments general position
is that the defense of the country must
be devised with two main conSideTa-
tons in view.
First. the chances of defenses hav-
ing to be used, and then the efficiency
and economy shown in their magnitude
and character.
The government has kept in view
the changes in policy and in the prob
lem of national security as affected by
the peace pact II that pact is to be
made an effective influence in tnterna-
tional relations"
1T is we'll known that in the midst OF
multifarious concerns which the forma-
ton Of a new government entailed and
the specially pressing and complicated
nature of our task, conversations have
been actively carried between the
United States and ourselves for the
purpose of opening the way for agree
ment on naval matters which hither-
to have defied settlement
by happy coincidence our assump-
tionof ONCE correspondent in time with
the arrival in this country of the new
American Ambassador, Gen. Dawes.
who came TO this country charged by
the President Of the United States with
a mission to prepare the ground for an
international agreement for reduction
and limitation of naval armament"
Already the whole field Of these
differences with the United States has
been surveyed and the two governments
have made O fresh start in their solu-
ton.
Agreed on Parity Principles.
1--WE have agreed upon the principle
Of parity. We have agreed that without
in any way departing from the condi-
tions Of parity, a measure OF elasticity
can be allowed so as to meet the re-
quirements of the two nations.
I'VE have determined that we shall
not allow technical points to override
great public issues involved in our be-
ing able to come to settlement, and
so soon as the rising of this house re-
leases me from its day-to-day work /
propose to make this matter my chief
concern until an issue is reached.
"A visit to the President of the
United States now is subject Of con-
versation so that it may take place
when 1t will be most helpful to promote
the cordial relations of the two coun-
tries and in particular to advance the
ends nf disarmament and peace which
we hold in common.
"It has to be fitted in with certain
international conferences, but october
at present seems likely month"
Committee Set Up.
Turning again to the military queS-
ton, Mr.. Macdonald said:
"A committee to coordinate the three
services for the purposes Of cabinet con-
sideraticn has been set up, but as that
coordination is not comprehensive
enough to meet requirements OF State
policy. the foreign Office is also repre-
sented upon it. This will enable us
to SYSTEMATIC our work in the hands
of this committee.
1.-THE general outlook Is such as to
Justify a review of our own program.
Our predecessors did this from time
to time as the outlook frightened.
Therefore, after a thorough examin-
alton of the naval position and not
ONLY as proof of our own sincerity, but
as q duty imposed upon us with regard
to expenditure Of national money, we
have decided as follows:
ITO suspend all works on cruisers
Surrey and Northumberland, to cancel
construction Of the submarine depot
ship Maidstone, to cancel the two con-
tracted submarines, and to slow down
dockyard work on other naval con-
Struction.
"As to the 1s2s-3O naval program. in
any case no commitments would have
and no steps will be taken to proceed
with the program until the matter has
received further consideration.
Mr.. Macdonald announced that the
governments of other powers repre-
sented at Washington in 1921 had been
informed OF the conversation and as
soon as the way is clear they will be
invited to q preliminary conference.
$50 that we may all endeavor togeth-
er to try to come to an agreement e.
comprehensive character" said the
prime minister, 1.-THE final agreement
will be ratified at place which hope
will by common agreement be chosen
by the United States rs a recognition
of the splendid part played by It's
President in these transactions. A re-
port will be made to the preparatory
commission on disarmament of the
League of Nations as contribution TO