BRITISH DEFENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1938, Page 5

BRITISH DEFENCE

PRESS COMMENT VOLUNTARY V. COMPULSION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, December 1. Press comment is divided between favouring Sir John Anderson’s voluntary scheme of national service and preferring compulsion. A third view favours accepting the voluntary plan ..as a test, and this is expressed by “The Times.”

“The Times” asks: “Will the plan satisfy tne nation, in which there is undoubtedly a lively feeling that the Government should have struck vhile the iron was hot, and should have demanded a drastic measure of national organisation and training? No doubt the plan is less dramatic than some would have wished, but it possesses the supreme virtue of offering a thorough test of the public spirit of the nation. Everything depends on the response to the appeal in the New Y ear.

The “Daily Telegraph” out-spokenly declares: “A measure which taps only a part _of the, nation’s man-power cannot be enough. A voluntary register repeals the numbers of those willing to offer service, but gives no guidance on those who are capable of giving service. It will be difficult, if registration is optional, for people in tjie mass to realise that it is an urgent duty. It will seem as though the Government is not very much in earnest after all.

The “News-Chronicle,” , commenting on Sir John Anderson’s register statement, welcomes the voluntary scheme and hopes that the agitation for compulsion will now be dropped. It declares that the scheme, to be good, must be accompanied by more inspired appeals than have yet been heard. “Let the Government show by deeds as well as words that'it intends to uphold democracy at home and abroad, and the register will soon be filled,” the “News-Chronicle” adds. The “Daily Mail” states: “After skilfully arranging for a voluntary, register and a compulsory emergency! register, Sir John Anderson should satisfy both those who support the Voluntary and those who support the compulsory system.” The “Daily Herald” does not comment.

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S DENIAL

LONDON, December 1

After Sir John Anderson had sat down, Mr George Lansbury (Labour) jumped up and exclaimed: “Do all these gigantic preparations mean that the Government’s view is that war is inevitable?”

Mr Chamberlain replied sharply, “Certainly not.”