NO LACK OF CRITICS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 11

NO LACK OF CRITICS

British White Paper on Defence NAVIES IN PACIFIC By Telegraph-—Press Assn. —Copyright(Received March 5, 5.5 p.m.) ' Loudon, March 4. The “Sun-Herald” news agency says :t is now evident that the M bite Paper will be attacked from all sides. Conservatives are dissatisfied with it, though as a whole they’are not so condemnatory as more extreme elements who, according to the “Daily-Mail,” regard the programme as “vague, evasive, indefinite and nebulous.” The “Daily Express” likewise joins the campaign, demanding “bigger and better things.” The “Suu-Herald” agency understands that a distinct possibility exists of units of the British Fleet being stationed in Australia and New Zealand as part of a policy of increasing the Empire’s naval forces in the Pacific. It is improbable, however, that there will be a formidable concentration in Australia and New Zealand in view of the Commonwealth having its own navy of three cruisers, five destroyers, a sloop and a plane-carrier and New Zealand having two cruisers and a sloop. The bulk of the British ships would probably be distributed on the China station. Singapore and Ceylon. The proposal may be said to be still in the discussion stage, following conversations Mr. Norman Davis, leader of the American delegation to the Naval Conference, initiated with Britain’s delegates, after which Dominions’ representatives were consulted. According to the “Sun-Herald” agency’s information, the Americans desire a gentlemen’s agreement with Britain on naval parity. “The Americans suggested that the British and United States fleets in the Pacific should be strengthened as a “collective security” reminder to Mr. Davis Is reported to have intimated the willingness of the United States to transfer more ships to the Pacific if Britain would do likewise.

The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that a semi-official commentary indicates that Germany has no quarrel with the British White Paper on armaments and does not feel herself menaced. On the contrary, she holds the view that it is right and the duty of every nation to possess the necessities of security. It adds that it is only fair and just to say that Germany should make the same claims for herself as she concedes to others.