PICTURES AND POLITICS

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 103, 4 May 1925, Page 7

PICTURES AND POLITICS

ROYAL ACADEMY BANQUET. ART AND WAR. PACIFIC PREPAREDNESS. (I.v 'able.—Tress Association.—Copyright.) lltereived 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Ma.v :i. Ail -nheres of public activity were eminently represented at the ' annual ilioyal Academy banquet at Burlington T',ll-0. It was presided over by Sir Frank Dieksec. who was supported by the Jinke ~f York anil surrounded by Dominion High Commissioners and members of ll ■ Diplomatic Corns. Lord (avail. Chief of the Geneii.. Stall', replying for the Army, said be anticipated tho time when selected fitl'u-ers would lie enabled to make tours of the Empire. He announced that Marsluil Pctaiu and General Dcbeny. Chief of Staff of the Army of France, had accepted invitations to attend the next manoeuvre*. Sir Samuel Hoare. Secretary of Mate for Air. replying for the Air Force, describe a 3500 mile air tour in the Near East and tbe Middle Kast from which be, with "Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary of State for the l olonies, returned to London on the previous night. He said tlie trip, which had been carried out in the Easter re-rr-ss. would otherwise have taken a year. Admiral Sir F. Bridgnian. responding for tlie Imperial Forces, dwelt on | Britain's pacific intentions and the absence of warlike clouds on the horizon, but he said Britain would permanently maintain the one Power Navy standard and keen abreast of the time. Regarding replacements he exnressed Britain's preparedness to consider any proposition for further limitation of armaments, and pointed out that of 345 ships laid down liy five Croat Powers since tbe war. Ttritain was responsible for only eleven. (Renter.)