RALLYING CALL TO BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 103, 25 January 1939, Page 11

RALLYING CALL TO BRITAIN

National Service In An Emergency

PREMIER LAUNCHES BIG CAMPAIGN

Defence Of Liberties And Ideals Of Free People

By Telegraph.—Press Aeen.—Copyright. LONDON, January 23.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, in his speech inaugurating the nation-wide national service campaign today, said: “It is a scheme to make us ready for war, but that does not mean that I thinkwar is coming. “You know I have done all I can to preserve peace for ourselves and others. We would never begin a war, but we might be forced io participate in a war begun by others, or might be attacked if the Government of another country thought that we could not defend ourselves.

“Therefore, the better we are prepared, the less likely is it that any aggressor would try an adventure on whiph the chances of success would be so unpromising. “The development of air forces has deprived Britain of her old island security, and civilians might be the first victims of attack. The necessaryorganization for their protection must, therefore, be made in peacetime. “Moreover, we must train in peacetime, for there will be no time to train after war starts. Therefore, the scheme is merely common prudence.” Mr. Chamberlain asked all who were ready to volunteer and who were not already engaged in work essential to the country’s security to choose some form of service outside their ordinary work. t lie concluded that there were some who believed that a compulsory scheme would be more effective. “But compulsion is not in accordance with the democratic system under which we live,” he said, “nor is it consistent with the tradition of freedom which we have always striven to maintain. We are confident that we shall get all the volunteers required w-ithout recourse to compulsion.

“It is for you to show the world what a free people are prepared to do in defence of their liberties and ideals, and I am confident that the call will bring the response for which I ask."