PACIFIC DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 7

PACIFIC DEFENCE.

British Far East Naval Talks

Not Confirmed. ADMIRALTY RETICENT. Independent Cablo Service. (Received 2 p.m.) LOXDOX, May 11. Reports circulating in London that a conference of all British naval forces in the Far East will shortly be held at Singapore is scouted at the Admiralty, where it is pointed out that the Com-manders-in-Chief of the East Indies squadrons conferred in March, while the Pacific Defence Conference has only just been held in Xew Zealand.

The Admiralty refuses to comment on a report that as a result of the New Zealand conference certain British battleships have been earmarked for the Pacific in the event of an emergency.

The "Daily Telegraph" e,arlier reported that it was believed flag officers of the British naval squadrons east of Suez would meet in Singapore shortly to discuss the modernising of the system of co-ordination of the defences.

UNDER NAZI PRESSURE.

TRADE UNION DISSOLVED. (Received 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, May 11. The International Trade Union Federation announced that the South-West African, branch had been disaffiliated under Nazi pressure.

GOVERNMENT SYMPATHY.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 11. It was announced at the spring assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales that Mr. Chamberlain had assured Free Church leaders that the Government would adopt a sympathetic attitude in the ease of genuine conscientious objectors, who refused any form of service.