IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 159, 21 June 1935, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

DOMINIONS FREE AGENTS Repairing Britain’s Forces HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE (British Official Wireless.) (Received 21, 12.30 p.rn.) RUGBY, Juno 20. The Bt. Hon. J. H. Thomas, speaking in the House of Commons when the Dominions Office vote was taken, said each Dominion had absolute freedom to determine its own destiny. The presence in London of so many representative Dominions statesmen gave them an opportunity to discuss the whole situation with regard to Imperial and foreign policy. In discussions on foreign affairs and Imperial defence no attempt was made to ask any Prime Minister to bind his Government. AU tho Dominions sympathise with the policy of the United Kingdom Government and declared that it must continue its efforts for peace, bearing always in mind the value of the League of Nations as an effective instrument to that end.

On the question of defence, the Dominions again, without a solitary exception, agreed that in view of tho present state of the Services, which had arisen as a result of an effort to set an example to the world in armaments reduction, it w T as an essential duty to tho people of Britain, and in view of Imperial obligations, that the steps to repair tho national defences already announced should bo undertaken. GERMAN NAVAL POWER Air Force Arm Not Affected (Received 21, 12.30 p.m.) BERLIN, June 20. A spokesman at the German War Ministry stated that the Anglo-German agreement would not affect the constitution of the military and naval air forces. The War Ministry remains the supreme authority aud does not intend appointing Secretaries of State for each arm, as before tho war. A writer in tho “Beobachter” voices the official view of the agreement and declares that Germany is entitled to 183,750 tons of battleships, of which sho already possesses threo pocket battleships of 10,000 tons each, and can ako build two aircraft carriers of 20,000 tons, five 10,000-ton cruisers or a larger number of light cruisers. She possesses six Emden-typo cruisers, enabling the cons,, notion of 32.0C0 ions of new vessels. Germany also is entitled to add tho existing twelve 800ton destroyers, making a destroyer fleet not exceeding 43,000 tons. Germany lor tho present will not exceed 45 per cent. of. the British submarine flotilla.

CONFLICT WITH VERSAILLES Anglo-German Naval Treaty (Received 21, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. In the House of Commons Mr. W, Thorne (Lab.), following Mr. Baldwin, asked, “Does not the Anglo-German naval agreement directly conflict with the Versailles Treaty? Will not the Auglo-Freneh-Italian agreement have to be revised?” Mr. Baldwin demanded notice of the question. NAVAL AND AIR PACTS Mr. Eden to Confer in Europe (British Official Wireless.) (Received 21, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 20. The Minister for League of Nations Affairs, tho Rt. Hon. R. A. Eden, called on tho Primo Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin, before leaving this afternoon for Paris, where he will discuss the Anglo-German naval agreement and other European questions, including the proposals for an air pact. Tho British Government suggested to the head of the Italian Government that it might be useful if Mr. Eden, after his discussion with M. Laval, should go on to Italy to discuss with Signor Mussolini the same questions, which will form the subject of his talks in Paris. A reply has been received from Signor Mussolini welcoming the suggestion.