ALARMIST REMARKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 252, 21 September 1933, Page 7

ALARMIST REMARKS

DEPRECATION IN SYDNEY. RELATIONS WITH JAPAN. STRENGTHENING OF DEFENCES. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.,—Copyright.) Received September 21, 8.45 a.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 21. An editorial, entitled “Arms and Alarmists,'’ in the Sydney Morning Herald refers to the agitation for strengthening Australian defences. The paper declares that there is no warrant for the reckless representation, of our position as one of peril. “The propaganda quite clearly is directed against Japan, which is a loyal ally,” says the paper. “She is still a Treaty partner and also one of our most important trading customers. Australia must continue her desire for peace, especially with those who are powerful enough and, if provoked, could ruin us.” The Herald announces that the Minister of Defence next Monday will dissociate the Government from the “alarming, exaggerated and reckless” utterances made recently by unauthorised and irresponsible persons. NATIONAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE. MR W. M. HUGHES’S INTEREST. SYDNEY, Sept. 20. There has been considerable discussion in the Australian Press lately regarding the inadequacy of Australia’s defences, and Mr AY. M. Hughes has been a prominent figure in the agitation to awaken interest in' the danger of aggression. A public meeting at Sydney convened by the Lord Mayor to-day decided to form a citizens’ national defence committee, which will be entirely 11011political. Mr Hughes, as chief speaker, declared that the world was seething with unrest. Australia could not continue to go without arms in a world without liberty. Never was there such a country as Australia, so inviting and so vulnerable. Tlie meeting passed a resolution in favour* of the rehabilitation of the Australian defences on a sound, practical basis and that a sustained effort be made to bring the voluntary training system up to full strength as desired by the military authorities.