EMPIRE DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 6

EMPIRE DEFENCE

THE PART OF NEW ZEALAND.

MR NASH’S ALLEGED STATEMENT

FORCE FOR' OVERSEAS

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, July 4

Mr do Valera gave a dinner to Air Walter Nash at Dublin Castle, attend,ed by members of the Cabinet, the High Commissioner .for Eire in London (Mr J. W. Dulanty, and Mr W. J. Jordan).

Speaking at the dinner, Mr Nash said that New Zealand was unlikely to send an expeditionary force overseas in the event of Britain being involved in war, although it woidd certainly defend the democratic ideal. Ho added that New Zealand was very jealous of its sovereignty, but was keener on the Commonwealth idea than on the Empire.

REPORT NOT CORRECT. ; ENTERING NO COMMITMENT. NEEDFUL ACTION, TO BE TAKEN. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) - LONDON, July 5. ' . Mr Nash denies his alleged statement that New Zealand was.unlikely to send an expeditionary force in the event of Britain becoming involved in war. “What I said was that it was unlikely that New Zealand would enter into any commitment to send an expeditionary force overseas,” said Mr Nash, “but what was necessary for her to defend democratic ideals would be undertaken. The Government will not undertake any commitments, but will wait until time shows what it ought to do. -We accepted the responsibility of defending New Zealand as a unit of the Empire, defending the Empire’s interests in the South Pacific.”