The Dominion. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1937. OUR DEFENCE POLICY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 10

The Dominion. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1937. OUR DEFENCE POLICY

+ In an interview yesterday, the Prime Minister stated that when in London he had sought the best advice from authoritative sources concerning measures to be adopted for the defence ot this Dominion which at the same time would fit in with the general scheme for the defence of the Commonwealth as a whole. What Mr. Savage asked for was a frank opinion on how the money should be spent, and on the relative importance and strength of the Sea, air. and land forces in our organisation for defence. “They were a bit dubious about giving it,” he said, “because they felt they might be blamed for trying to interfere with or trying .to influence Government policy. I told them there was no need to worry about that. That was a sensible line to take. Socialist policy is traditionally pacifist and anti-militarist, and the Imperial authorities whom Mr. Savage consulted, well aware of this, might be pardoned for feeling some diffidence about speaking with what might be regarded as undue emphasis. It is to the Prime Ministers credit that he made quite clear his conviction that the safety of the country was a matter which transcended . pacifist . doctrine. Quite apart from party principles, however, .British sentiment throughout the Commonwealth is pacifist in spirit and intention. The consensus of opinion, which is expressed in the foreign policy of the British Government, is to foster international peace in every possible way. Experience has demonstrated, however, that British influence in international councils has been greater or less, according to the measure of her strength on sea, land and in the air. Justice cannot be assured, or law and order preserved, unless the means are at hand for law enforcement when peace and the general interest are threatened by acts of aggression. There is a responsibility upon the Great Powers to maintain the peace. If they cannot, through unwillingness, act unitedly, then a greater responsibility is thrown upon those who are on the side of peace to take adequate measures to preserve it. That is the position to-day. The peace of the world is menaced, and it has become necessary for those nations who are pledged to safeguard it to strengthen their resources accordingly,. both in. the general interest and in the interests of their own collective and individual safety. The New Zealand people must be prepared to play their part and do their share. It should be a matter for general satisfaction that the Government realises its responsibility, and is anxious to do whatever may be deemed best to ensure that, if the call should come, the emergency will be faced with complete unanimity, resolution, and the utmost efficiency and effectiveness of our modest resources. The Prime Minister in his consultation with the Admiralty remarked to the First Sea Lord that if we had to defend New Zealand alone “we could not develop enough strength to pull a herring off a grid-iron.” It has never been pretended that this country on its own resources could be expected to do more than to stall off raiding attacks until assistance arrived. The strategy of the situation envisages nothing more serious. Large-scale invasion and occupation would, it is considered, expose the enemy to serious risks from the British forces based at Singapore. But a raiding force with aeroplanes and bombers could do an immense amount of damage in a short time unless met with deter-' mined and effective resistance from our own resources. Our duty, then, is clear. We must, in co-operation with the Government, do everything possible to ensure that these resources will be adequate. This is a question upon which all parties should be united, with the unanimous support of public opinion behind them. The Government has faced the position in a realistic spirit. The nation as a whole must be prepared to do the same.