Some Building Cancelled, Dockyard Work and Other Naval Construction to be Slowed Down: Premier's Statement in Commons.
London, July 24. the House of Commons to-day the Premier announced that, be would probably visit the United States. next: October.
Tu a statement on the subject of the naval ship-building programme, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald announced that the Government had decided to suspend work on the cruisers Surrey and Northumberland, to cancel the building of the submarine depot-ship Maidstone and. two submarines which were to be built on contract; and to slow down dock: yare work and other naval con-
The Premier said that the general position of the Government is That the defence of the country must be based on two main con. siderations: firstly, the chances of having to use the defences and, scendly, the efficiency and economy shown in their magnitude and cha acter, He declared that the Government kept in view changes of policy, and the problem of national security was affected by the Peace Pact, Gf. the latter was to be made an effective influence in international relations, "To make it $0 is the Controlling purpose of the Government, and a systematic policy is being developed, which will take little time. to complete, in order to carry out that intention."
Piold of Differences Surveyed Conversations, he said, had been actively conducted with the United States for the purpose of opening the way to an agreement on naval matters, which up to that time had defted settlement. The Premier. al-Juded to his conversation with Ge crat Charles G. Dawes, the American Ambassador, and said that
es with the United States had surveyed. The two govern-the whole Reld of these differ ments had made a fresh start. They agreed that, without depart-{ing from the principle of parity, measure of elasticity is allowable to meet the peace requirements of the two nations, We are determined not to allow technical to over-ride the great public involved in our ability to reac! settlement."
The Premier said that he proposed, when the House rose for the summer recess, to concentrat fon this question is boon reached. ident Hoover, he added the subject of conversations tween the two countries in order that it should take place when it would be most helpful in promoting cordial relations between Brita' and America, and, particularly, to advance the ends' of disarmament and peace which they held in common, Such a visit would have to be fitted in with certain international conferences, but October seemed the likely month.
Programme to be Reviewed \dded that a committee to ite the army, navy and ait vices for the purpose of consideration by-the Cabinet, had been tablished but, as this co-ordina tion was not comprehensive enough to meet the requirements of State policy, the Foreign Office was now false represented on it.
In the opinion of this Com aid the Premier, the general. on Took was such as to justify a review of Britain's programme. 'Therefore, after a thorough examination of the naval position and "not only as a proof of our sinecrits asa duty imposed on us wit expenditure of mational money," the Government had decided' to suspend work on. the cruisers Surey and. Northumber-Tand, to cancel the submarine depot-ship' Maidstone, to cancel two submarines which are being built under ontraet, and to slow down work in the Government dockyards and on other naval construction.
Mr. Ramsay MacDonald declared in apy. event, as regards the 80 naval construction pro-imme, there would be no commitments made before the autumn, and no steps would be taken to Proceed with it until the matter] received further consideration.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.