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Sunday 28 August 2016

British First Lord of the Admiralty Wilbur denied extensive shipbuilding program according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf dated 17 November 1927

An item dated London, England 16th reported that the British minister of navy Lord Bridgeman (1) denied that the England was to attend the naval conference at Genova, Switzerland (2)with an shipbuilding program of larger ships and increased financial consequences. This program was the reason that Lord Cecil stepped out of the cabinet. Bridgeman stated that the proposals however resulted in more as 51 million pound sterling saving by replacing the battleships and more as a million saving for each cruiser to be built in the future. Furthermore had at Genova been none discord between Cecil (3) and his colleagues. Bridgeman himself was as he said of peace believing that even a failure of the Genova conference would not result in a new naval arms race.

Notes
1. William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman (31 December 1864 London, Englan-14 August 1935 Leigh Manor, Shrophsire, England), Conservative politician, First Lord of the Admiralty November 1924-June 1929.
2. On 20 June 1927 started the Geneva Naval Conference aiming to limit the construction of cruisers, destroyers and submarines. France and Italy were not present at Geneva. This conference failed and was followed by the London Naval Conference resulting in the London Naval Treaty.
3. Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood (14 September 1864 London, England-24 November 1958 Chelwood Gate, Danehill near Haywards Heath), under secretary of state for foreign affairs 30 May 1915-10 January 1919 and supporter/architect of the League of Nations.