EMPIRE DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 4, 5 July 1939, Page 10

EMPIRE DEFENCE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. R. G. Menzies, in a public speech a few days ago, said: "I do not hesitate to say that in pursuance of its international policy Australia stands with Britain, and if the pursuance of that policy means trouble, or even if it means war, there need be no doubt that those troubles and the endurance of Britain's trials will be shared by Australia."

Mr. Walter Nash, New Zealand Minister of Finance, speaking at Dublin Castle, said: "New Zealand is unlikely to send an expeditionary force overseas in the event of Britain being involved in war, although it would certainly defend its democratic ideals."

Towards the close of the Great War, in which our country was pledged to "any sacrifice," it was being suggested that New Zealand had done enough. Sir Francis Bell replied as follows to those suggestions:—

"Well, sir, at all events, I who speak here am solemnly bound by those engagements that I have read and if they are to be thrown to the winds, then let some others —let some others be the men to break the faith of New Zealand, but not a man born in New Zealand, proud of New Zealand, happy in what has been done, feeling that his country has done its duty so far, in performance of its obligations to the Mother Country. If our promise is no longer to be the measure of our obligation then let some other men dishonour our word and the promise that we have made."-—I am, etc.,

N.Z. DIGGER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l read that Mr. Nash, in Dublin, says he does not think New Zealand forces would travel overseas in the event of Britain being involved in war. He says New Zealand is jealous of its sovereignty.

Mr. Nash apparently knows where to go when in financial difficulty. Does he not realise also that New Zealand's welfare is equally dependent on Britain's strength in war, and that this Dominion will survive only if London stands? —I am. etc.,

RULE BRITANNIA.