The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1936. DEFENCE PROBLEMS.

Evening Star, Issue 22228, 4 January 1936, Page 10

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1936. DEFENCE PROBLEMS.

In Auckland yesterday the Hon. Robert Semple declared. that it was self-evident that New Zealand had to have a defence system in some. form. He expressed the view that an efficient air force and the naval division were_ the most important requirements. .This is a reassuring statement, for in the past Labour Ministers in the Empire have been anything but enthusiastic about national defence. Naval and aerial works in Auckland province, inaugurated by the Coalition Government, are in progress, and Mr Semple is impressed by their usefulness. It is to be inferred from his remarks that as Minister of Public Works he will recommend to Cabinet that their construction be continued. In the postwar years high hopes .were inspired by the establishment of the of Nations, the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, the acceptance, by sixty States of the Briand-Kellogg Pact, and the apparent success of other peace movements. • These developments, with financial stringency and the bogey of militarism added, were responsible for much slackening in the Empire’s defence system. ' A sense of false security prevailed.- Further, in his zeal for peace and in his desire to buttress precept by example, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, as Britain’s Prime Minister, followed a policy that has undoubtedly reduced Britain’s naval and air forces to a point near the danger line. Events in the last two or three years have shown that the , hopes entertained were illusory, for in pursuit of national aims the League has been thrown overboard, and solemn pacts and obligations disregarded. I Lord Beatty recently urged the necessity for-the reorganisation of the British Navy. He pointed out that of fifteen major ships in the Fleet, -only three had been built since the war, and a few others had been improved to resist am and submarine attacks. Britain’s further strength was represented by fifty-one ships of all classes, plus ten being built. Half of the ships in commission were constructed before the war, and therefore ill-equipped for attack, insufficiently protected, _ and too slow to- meet modern conditions. In the last few mouths attention has been repeatedly directed to the position of the air arm, which has been declared to be greatly inferior to that of some other Powers. So far nothing has been achieved by the Naval Conference,, which began its sittings in .London last month, and the prospects are not bright, for the difference jn views between Japan and the United States", and in a lesser degree, between Japan and Britain, appear to be almost incapable of adjustment. There can be no doubt that the result of the recent elections in Britain was largely determined by apprehensions about the condition of the national defences. The day is past when British statesmen can be justly accused of militaristic tendencies. Recent events have proved •that the exact opposite is the case, and that the desire is to make Britain the world’s foremost proponent and guardian of peace. Mr Malcolm MacDonald, on taking the portfolio of Secretary of State for .the Dominions, said: “ The Empire stands foremost as a champion in a world-in which freedom is challenged,. The greatest task before the Empire’s people is to maintain the freedom already established, to see that it spreads, and that as, a result it will be an example to other countries.” What is urgently needed is a coordinated defence policy for the whole of the Empire, each unit taking its fair share. In the present temper of the world, with so many manifestations of aggression, it is only reasonable that the defences of the Motherland and the dominions and, colonies should be placed in a position that will enable their statesmen to speak with authority and confidence on questions of foreign policy.