EMPIRE LOYALTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 7

EMPIRE LOYALTY

RESOURCES BEHIND BRITAIN MR. EDEN PAYS TRIBUTE [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] 1 " - " I RUGBY, December 7. Replying to the Commons debate, Mr. Eden (Dominions Secretary) said that there was a great improvement in the physique and general health of the men being called up to-day, over those in 1914. The Government was taking steps to see how best to ensure good results in the field of during the war period. Mr Eden quoted a reliable authority as expressing the opinion that the German Army was physically inferior to that of 1914. He said the reverse was the case so far as Britain was concerned. Splendid types had joined up to fight the Prussian spirit of military domination. Speaking on the war effort of the British Commonwealth, Mr. Eden said that from the small Dominion of Newfoundland hundreds of men were coming to join the Royal Navy. South Rhodesia had raised hundreds of men, who were new in training, and had offered three squadrons, to the Royal Air Force. Each of the Dominions has placed the whole of its naval resources to co-operate with the Admiralty. On land, we would soon have the co-oper-ation of Australia, New Zealand, 'and Canada in those fields of war in which they won imperishable fame 25 years ago. Turning to the air, Mr. Eden said that a large part of the R.A.F. consisted of personnel from the Dominions, and over and above that, the new ah scheme was going to bring to our help thousands of pilots and air crews. He believed that it was positive faith in parliamentary government by a free community, which had called forth these examples of self-sacrifice and loyalty. “It is in that spirit, which T find daily in the. work which I have to do, that lies our certainty of ultimately winning this conflict” he added.

COLONEL REITZ IMPRESSED RUGBY, December 6. Colonel Reitz, South African Minister of Native Affairs, who during his five weeks’ visit to London, was the South African representative at the Ministerial conversations, left by an’ for Johannesburg. Before leaving, he expressed profound admiration of Britain’s war effort and plans, and of the single-minded spirit he found in England and France. During Colonel Reitz dined with the King at Buckingham Palace, and had frequent meetings for the discussion of defence matters with members of the Cabinet. Armament factories and training depots in various parts of Britain were visited, and, during his tour of France with other Dominion Ministers, he inspected the defences of the Maginot. Line. ANGLO-FRENCH COLLABORATION RUGBY, December 7. Replying to a question in the Commons, as to the advisability of considering the possibility of making permanent the present association of Britain and France, as the beginning of an international structure, the Prime Minister said: “The suggestion would appear, in the present circumstances, to be x at least premature, but I am confident that. Anglo-French collaboration will be as close and cordial in the work of reconstruction atit is in the conduct, of the war." Mr. R. S. Hudson stated, in the Commons, that the various bodies referred to in the joint statement issued by Mr. Chamberlain and M. Daladier on Allied co-operation had now been set up, and thp Anglo-French co-ordin-ating Committee wa 1 ' holding its kirnt ! meeting to-day.