London, Mar. 8.
In a speech at Aberdeen to-night, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony. Eden, referred to the rearmament programme as a means toan end and end in itself.
The Government, he said, believed to be an Indispensable contribution to peace. "It was dificult itch with patience nations piling armaments onan ever-morea scale, knowing that the ultimate effect of their action must react on the standard of living of peoples, While therefore at this time, no responsible British government could other than ask the nation's endorsement of the _rearmament, programme which they had outlined, which they were already engaged on, and which they meant to carry through to the end if need be, it was none the less clearly their duty seize the frst opportunity to cut this vicious elrele of rising arma-
Speaking of the British Common wealth of Nations as one of greatest stabilizing influences for peace and progress in the modern world, Mr. Eden said It was clear that foreign affairs "would be one of the major subjects for discussion at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, and it was Impossible to over-estimate the value of a free inter-change of views: Between the governments of the Commonwealth on these issues, particularly at the present time.
It was not possible now to anticipate the course of the discussion, except to say that the United Kingdom government intended to lay the facts "as they saw them, fully and frankly, before the conference, and to. endeavour to reach. in consulta-ton, an agreement on the lines of action which would contribute both towards the prosperity of the British Commonwealth and" towards the peace of the world. az ow there was a great ing_and. progressive. me Rivence at work.
Disturbing as the effect of recent and present large increases tu world armaments must be to the public mind. these "in. no. senso. sustained Accoptance of the inevitability war, His "Majesty's Government fwouid never mibseribe to such fatal ism.
'The influences working for peace were many and "varied. 'Not the Toast among them was the realisation, inescapable for all, of the appalling trid. immessirabie calamity for all itin and' vanquished alike—which Ferort "to war involved. In ise that was an important deterrent.
Mr. Eden, referred to the necessity, nider the system of representalve government. for a foreign polley the bases of which commanded the reement ofall scoons of the come nity, irrespective of party. He Skelched out a line of principles which, he believed, commended them-elves to the moral sense and com-Tonstnse of the country. "We are Bit agreed," he sala, "ihat the main object of foreign policy fs the Suit of peace and that, while avolding "antiiing. in the nature Provocation, sve should not hesitate fovzpeate our minds when we think If ght. We are all agreed that, in eanning the world, "thie country Should "have. armaments common: Sorte with ite national, Imperial and "international responsioities. We are all agreed that "peace will Only finally be secured bythe Establishment of tu international Seder which shall" substitute. the fle of law for the rule. of force. Wer are all agreed that we should ce-operate with those who are like minded, "and should. make every Cndeavour. to extend the area of ce Speration."—Wireless Through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.