In the House of Lords on Wednesday Lord Cecil made
personal explanation of his reasons for resigning from the Cabinet. We feel after reading it that he would have helped the cause of peace more by staying where he was. Did the incidental disappointments and rebuffs which he suffered justify an act which foreigners inevitably interpret as a proof that the British Government are not in earnest ? Two specially interesting facts- emerge. Mr. Churchill objected to British acceptance of "mathematical parity" with the United States. That, we think, was a lamentable mistake. We cannot possibly prevent the United States from outbuilding us if she wants to do so.: She has the money. Why should we implant in her the motive ? Fortunately, the Government now seem anxious to 875 remedy the mistake by immediately cutting the cruiser programme. The second fact is that Lord Cecil wanted 876 to let the Americans mount the larger (8 in.) guns in their 876 cruisers. The Admiralty held' out for the smaller guns.
877 By a curious paradox Lord Cecil tried to ensue peace 878 by dissenting from the Admiralty's highly pacific policy of lower gun-power. He was looking beyond the 879 immediate question, but was it not a case of trying "to buy peace ? "
