DOMINION'S PART

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 10

DOMINION'S PART

CABLE FROM MR. NASH

DUBLIN STATEMENT

While it was unlikely that New Zealand would make advance commitments to send an expeditionary force overseas, it would make every possible arrangement to take its part in Empire defence, was the substance of the statement made by Mr. Nash in Dublin, according to a cablegram from Mr. Nash which w.as read in the House of Representatives this afternoon in reply to an urgent question put to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) by Mr. J. Hargest (National. Awarua)..

Mr. Hargest asked if the Prime Minister's attention had been drawn to a cabled, statement attributed to the Minister of Firiance at a dinner in j Dublin-Castle: "That in the event ofj Britain being involved in war, Newj Zealand was unlikely to send an ex- j peditionary force overseas, and thatj New Zealand was keener on the ideal of a Commonwealth of Nations than on the-idea of Empire." Mr. ■ Hargest also asked if the statement as published, represented the views of the New Zealand Government* > MINISTER'S CABLE. No Press present at Dublin Castle' dinner. In my speech I made specific reference to the value of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and trusted any difficulties at present existing would be overcome by agreement so that we could all go forward in maintenance of democracy and ideals of freedom associated with it. This reference was ; warmly received by all present. ■Your report may refer to Press j interview at which, without any j doubt of misunderstanding, I stated ! that while it -was unlikely that New j Zealand would in advance make com- : mitments to send an expeditionary ; force overseas, it would make every i possible arrangement so that it could take its part in the defence of the j Dominion, British interests in the j Pacific, and its share in the defence of the British Commonwealth of Nations. My reference to Commonwealth as opposed to Empire distinctly referred to my personal regard for the term "British Commonwealth of Nations," rather than "Empire." j

"May I add to that," said Mr. Savage, "my own experience at the Imperial Conference, where the term 'British Commonwealth of Nations' was universally used."