Viscount Cecil's Address in Opening Preparatory Committee of Conference Geneva, May 18, 'M, London (Boland) was to-day appointed chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Disarmament Conference after M. Boncourt'
(France) had declined "to be nominated by Viscount Ceci! (Britain) on the ground that he had an argument to advance and, therefore, his plage was not in the chair.
Viscount Cecil opened the proceed. ings of the Commitree to-day wit a clear exposition of the British view as retards disarmament, He that Britain was most anxious for a reduction of armaments in view of her financial position and the unemployment in the country. He ointed out that Britain was in special position as compared wi other countries. The British Army did not depend upon the size of the armies of other countries. Besides garrisoning in Britain, the Army] had to discharge oversea requirements—India, Egypt, Mesopotamia end Palestine, As regards the Navy' a number of cruisers were required owing to the British oversea posses ions, while the Air Force depended upon the size of the forces of other countries.
In conclusion Visenunt Cacil do-lar @-must find a basis for armament and with goodwill attain our object."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.