EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 4 August 1923, Page 7

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

PLANS FOR CO-ORDINATION. THREE FIGHTING SERVICES. INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE. UNDER COUNCL OF DEFENCE. U<r Cable.-Press Association.—Copyright.) iKeceived 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 3. A \V hitc Paper regarding co-ordination of the defence rorces states that the Government has decided, on the recommendations of the National Imperial Defence 'omraittee, that it Is undesirable ana impracticable to supersede the heads ot the three lighting services by making them subordinate to a Minister ol Defence. Amalgamation of the three forces is equally impracticable, and the existing system of co-ordination by thg Committee of Imperial Defence is insufficient to secure full initiation and responsibility for defence as a whole, and requires to be defined and strengthened. Therefore, while the existing system of departmental initiative will contmue, responsibility for wider initiative will also rest with the chairman of the Committee of Imperial Defence, acting under the general direction of the committee, with tbe assistance of three chiefs of staffs. The committee considers the Imperial Committee should consist of a chairman, |p. deputy to the Prime Minister, the First of the Admiralty, the Secretaries of War, Air, Foreign Affairs, the Colonies, and India, the Chancellor oj the Exchequer, the ,-hiefs of staffs of the three fighting services, and the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. In addition to these, other British or Dominion Ministers, oflirials. or specially qualified persons, will be summoned according to the nature of the business. The chairman's functions will include, assisted hy three chiefs of staffs, keeping the defence situation constantly under review, so as to ensure defence preparations, and plans and expenditure thereupon, co-ordinated and framed to meet the policy, so that full information regarding the changing military, naval, and air situation may always be available.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) '