ARMAMENTS OF EMPIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 23 March 1923, Page 5

ARMAMENTS OF EMPIRE

RIPE FOR REVISION. COMMITTEE OF DEFENCE. EXTENSIVE USE URGED. (By I'ulile. —l'rcm AxioHullun. Copyrlßht.i i Ke.-eived 1..-J0 p.m.i LONDON, March >± Lord Sydenham, ex-tuivernor of \ ictoria. in a letter on Imperial security, advocates the extension, the intelligent use »nd development, of the the existing machinery of the Committee of Imperial Defence, of which lie was first secretary, as most competent to deal with problems of the sea, hind, and air. Lord Sydenham contends that the committee was not effectively n-cd during the war. otherwise certain grave errors would not.have occurred. He agrees that it is essential to secure tin-co-operation of the Dominion-*, lint points out that the Prime Ministers, engrossed with local problems, may not he nble to give attention to 'world questions and cannot maintain a trained staff employed for the special study of these subjects, while necessary information is not accessible. Therefore it is the duty of the committee to supply information and reasoned statements of opinion, receiving in return local knowledge and opinions. Ther.' should Infrequent interchange of the members of the war staffs of England and the Empire. The Home stall's should have closer liaison with other British staffs. When tlie Prime Ministers, as ex-oflicio members of the committee, arc tumble to attend, they should appoint representatives, possihlv High Commissioners, empowered to raise questions relevant to Imperial defence. The "Times." in an editorial, commenting on the feature of the article calling attention to the shrinkage of the Dominion naval armaments for Empire defence, says that the result of the last few years has been the undoing in every unit of the Empire of the efforts called forth during the war. From top to bottom the whole armaments of the Empire are ripe for revision in the light of modern strategy, foreign policy and national economy. If economy as as wpll as better co-ordination and distribution of military materials is likely to be promoted by a Ministry of Defence, the sooner that main reoreanisation is set in hand tlie better. — (Times.) NO CHANGE IN AUSTRALIA. (Received ln.-tn n.m.i MELBOURNE, this daT. The Federal Defence Council has decided that there shall be no material change in defence matters contemplated pending the Imperial Defence Conference (A. and N.Z. Cable.)