11 MAY 1929, Page 2

We sincerely hope that the examination of the details necessary

for naval reduction as proposed by Mr. Gibson will be as prompt as possible. The guns, armour, age, speed, radius of action, and so on, of cruisers will have to be reduced to a formula. This is a matter exclusively for experts. But when the experts have done their work the time will have come for the Government to take up the argument. There ought never again. to be confusion between the functions of statesmanship and technical advice. That confusion has brought our affairs to ship- wreck in the past, and no Government will be forgiven that allows the mistake to be repeated. _