ARTISTS’ BANQUET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 May 1925, Page 7

ARTISTS’ BANQUET.

EMPIRE’S DEFENCE. BRITAIN’S INTENTIONS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received May 4, 11.15 a.m. 'LONDON, May 3. All spheres of public activity were eminently represented at the annual Royal Academy banquet at Burlington House, presided over by Sir. F. Dicksee, flanked by the Duke of York and surrounded by high members of the House of Commons find diplomatic corps. The Earl of Cavan’, Chief of Staff, replying for the army., anticipated the time would come when selected officers would be enabled to make tours; of the Empire.' He announced that Marshal Petilin aiid General Debeney, chief of staff of France, had accepted an invitation to attend the next manoeuvres.

. Sir Samuel Boa re, Air Secretary, replying for the air force, described a 3,500 mile air tour in the Near East and Middle East, from which he, with •Mr. h. S. A-niefy, the Colonial Secretary, returned to London on the previous night. He said the trip, whic.lv had been carried out in the Easter recess would otherwise have taken a year. Mr.' W. C. Bridgemart, First Lord.of the Admiralty, responding for the Imperial forces, dwelt on Britain’s pacific intentions and absence of warlike ciouds Op the horizon, but he said that Britain would permanently maintain a one-power standard and keep •abreast of the times regarding replacements. He expressed his preparedness to consider any proposition for further limitation of armaments, and pointed out that, of 345 ships laid down by the five great powers- since the war, Britain was responsible for only eleven.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.