PREPAREDNESS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 14, 17 July 1923, Page 7

PREPAREDNESS

EX-SERVICEMEN'S IDEAL

FOR SAFETY AGAINST. WAR

CONFERENCE OF EMPIRE

LEAGim

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received 17th July, 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, 16th July. The oepning of the first biennial Conference of the British' Empire Service League was attended by delegates from all parts of the Empire. The Duke of Devonshire. Secretary for the Colonies, emphasised the importance of turning to the most profitable account the victory gained at so great a cost. He was confident that if they co-operated in the spirit of unity-and determination, however serious and complicated the problems, there would be ultimate success.

Earl Haig, in welcoming the delegates, said the League's new endeavour could' be summed up in the words, "Unity, Comradeship, and -Peace." Inter-Em-pire migration, he said, presented a rich field for the 'work of the League, and the future of the Empire depended upon its successful solution. He urged the maintenance of friendship and good understanding with .the ex-service organisation of the Allied peoples, especially of the United States. Such common action would spell peace in the world. In the interests of peace, ex-service men should stand for adequate defence of the Empire. An unarmed nation did not keep the respect and friendship of its neighbours. We had seen what unpreparedness had cost this generation; we had seen the sin of unpreparedness visited upon our children. The fact was that in 1914 the Empire was unorganised, even in skeleton, for a war of defence: The League must press for a defensive organisation. ' General Russell, of New Zealand, in expressing the thanks of the delegates, said the populating of vast areas overseas was essential for the security of the Dominions.

The Prince of Wales was re-elected Patron, and Earl Haig, Grand President. A message from the American Legion expressed the hope "that the world may see in our continued unity a hope fpr the universal .brotherhood of men."