BRITAIN AND LEAGUE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 November 1935, Page 5

BRITAIN AND LEAGUE

Support Considered to Have Been Too Long Delayed NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCES THOUGHT TO BE SUFFICIENT (British Oflicial Wireless). (Received 1.30 p.m. to-day) RUGBY. Nov. 5. A broadcast election address last night was delivered by Mr Arthur Gi-eenwood (Labour). who declared that the Government’s full support of the League policy and the collective peace system was too long delayed, and lie denied that Britain’s armed' forces were inadequate for the purposes of national defence, ox- insufficient to enable the country to take its part in developing a policy of collective security through the League. The Labour Party, he said, was pledged 'to maintain armed defences at the highest point of 5 elficiency consistent with tho country’s needs and with its responsibilities with other League powers xinder the covenant. Referring to the fall in unemployed he said the figures showed that over the whole post-war period industries had not expanded fast enough to absorb the normal increase of population.

Regarding the suggestion that a fin- j anciaf crisis would be precipitated if | Labour was returned to power, ho ( said, “We seek ixo crisis, and if one should arise it will be due to interests which refuse to accept the fully expressed will of the people.” Tho Prime Minister, in a speech at Liverpool, said that not only did Brit ain need a strong and tried Government, but he believed also that Europe was looking to this country for help and advice as she had never done before. There was undoubtedly throughout Europe a strong and resolute desire for peace. Britain nnxst do what she could to pursue peace, and in regard to the present war they must try to find some solution agreeable to Italy, Abyssinia and the League, realising that having failed to prevent war, the next duty was to bring that war to an end, not by isolated action, but by all sharing the risks and all sharing the honour of a settlement. Peace in Europe was necessary and an essential prelimiixary to a restarting of international trade, which was essential for the prosperity of all Europe.