7 SEPTEMBER 1929, Page 1

Naval Reduction On Tuesday Mr. MacDonald opened the general debate

in the Assembly of the League. It is worth noting that his speech was broadcast. Millions of listeners all over the world were thus made part of his audience at Geneva. The significance of this extension of the audience cannot well be exaggerated. In a new manner the League advances in the homes of the peoples. Mr. MacDonald's principal subject was disarmament. He said that the tentative naval agreement between Great Britain and the United States would probably run to twenty points. Of these only three remained unsettled. He had hoped that he would have been able to make a definite announcement to the Assembly, but though this was impossible at the moment, agreement might perhaps be reached on the three remaining points before the Assembly dispersed.