DANGER OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 11

DANGER OF WAR.

AFTER LONG PEACE. , Australia Needs Effective Defences. — • PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. After a meeting of the National Defence Council, the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, warned Australia of the danger of war. "Since the end of last year," he said, "the international situation has not improved. Events in Europe and the East have moved in a direction which may precipitate a world conflict with tragic suddenness. "What Australia must realise, and realise quickly, is that these events vitally affect our country. In the last few years, even in the last few months, there have been vast changes in the world situation. "These changes mean that the peace which Australia has enjoyed for 150 years is threatened." Mr. Lyons emphasised the view that effective defences in Australia would help to avert a world conflict.

£12,500,000 LOAN.

Canada's ' Extensions to Her Defence Programme. NEED FOR EXPORT MARKETS. (Received 12.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, January 25. In the House of Commons the Minister of Defence, Mr. Lan Mackenzie, announced a £12,500,000 loan to finance the extension to the defence programme covering the purchase of two cruisers, heavy guns, war 'planes and Army equipment. To prevent profiteering all future defence purchases will be made through a Government Purchasing Board, consisting of a business man; a lawyer and an Army officer. Mr. W. D. Euler, the Minister of Trade, attacked the opposition to trade with certain foreign countries, and most particularly favoured nation agreements. It was vitally necessary for Canada, with her huge resources and small population, to find export markets. "LEAGUE OF EMPIRE." Let British Nations Agree on Common Foreign Policy. WORLD WILL ACCEPT IT. (Received 1 p.m.) MONTREAL, January 25. Departing for England Mr. R. B. Bennett, former *Prime Minister of Canada, made an appeal for a "League of Empire." "Let the British nations agree upon a common foreign policy and the world will listen and accept it," he declared.