On Friday last, Mr. Bridgman and Lord Cecil attended a
meeting of the Cabinet and reported on the Naval Limitation Conference. Similar meetings have taken place this week. The two delegates left London on Wednesday on their return to Geneva, unfortunately without Admiral Field, who is ill. Admiral Pound will take his place. Statements 'were made by the leaders of both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. These were encouraging as to an agreement, for the immediate future at any rate, being reached in regard to the programmes for cruiser building. Otherwise the statements add the fullest authority to the view of the British position which we have already tried to put before our readers. here and abroad. We have given up the sovereignty of the sea at the Washington Conference : we accept the United States' desire for " parity " ; our minimum needs will allow of reductions such as President Coolidge has invited us to discuss : we are willing to discuss them.
