EMPIRE DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 22 November 1934, Page 9

EMPIRE DEFENCE

CO-ORDINATION OF POLICY

■SIR MAURICE HANKEY ARRIVES,

Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, Nov. 21. A visit that is exi>ected to have an important bearing on New Zealand’s part in Empire defence is being made by Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary to the Imperial Committee of Defence, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney to-day by tbe Wanganella. Sir Maurice will be in New Zealand for about a week. His principal object is to attend a two-day conference which will begin to-morrow in the Prime Minister’s quarters in Parliament Buildings.

He is accompanied by Senator Sir George Pearce (formerly Minister of Defence in the Commonwealth Government and now Minister of External Affairs and Territories), Mr A. E. Leighton (Commonwealth Controller of Munitions) and Mr F. Shedden (Secretary to the Commonwealth Defence Committee). Interviewed, Sir Maurice Hankey said he preferred not to comment on any aspect of his mission. Sir George Pearce remarked that the discussions between Sir Maurice Hankey and the Australian Government on Imperial defence liad been most valuable, and -it was considered that tlie consultations to take place in Wellington would bs of equal value. Among the problems to be discussed would be the question of co operation and coordination between New Zealand and Australia in defence matters. “We are rather in the dark. We only know what has been stated in the newspapers,” said a New Zealand defence official when asked about the subject matter of tbe forthcoming conference. He said it was hoped to have it completed to-morrow.

LEADERS’ INFORMAL TALKS. SIR GEORGE PEARCE PRESENT. WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. As a preliminary to the series of conferences to commence to-morrow morning with the New Zealand Cabinet on the question of Empire defence, Sir George Pearce and Sir Maurice Hankey had an informal talk with the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Eorbes) and the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. G. Cobbe) this afternoon. Prior to this they were entertained at afternoon tea by Mr Forbes and met the other Ministers at present in Wellington —the Minister of Lands (Hon. E. A. Ransom), the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. J. A. Young), and the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. Bitchener). Sir Maurice Hankey and Sir George Pearce will be entertained at a Ministerial luncheon on Friday. Sir Maurice will be leaving Wellington on his return to Great Britain early next week, but the stay of Sir George Pearce in the Dominion will bs longer.

PRINCIPLES OF DEFENCE. THE EXISTING CO-OPERATION. The conference on defence matters between Sir Maurice Hankey and the New Zealand and Australian representatives is the outcome of plans which have been in contemplation for some time past. During last yeai’ an examination was made by the Australian defence authorities of the possibilities of establishing more effective co-operation with New Zealand in defence matters, and, as a consequence, various proposals were submitted _to the New Zealand Government covering closer liaison affecting the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force, as well as munitions supply and civil aviation. These proposals have since been under consideration by the New Zealand Government. The Commonwealth Government has been impressed by the similarity of the wider problems of defence policy with which Australia and New ea " land are faced, and it has felt that active co-operation and co-ordination between the two Dominions in defence matters would be mutually advantageous, and would definitely strengthen their respective positions against possible aggression. The conference between Ministers and experts of the two Governments has been arranged to coincide with the visit of fair Maurice Hankey by reason of the responsible position lie holds as Secretary of the Commitee of Imperial Defence, which is the body dealing with problems of strategy affecting the Empire as a whole. There is, of course, already a considerable degree of co-operation between the two Dominions'' in defence matters. Combined gunnery and torpedo and other squadron exercises are carried out from time to time jointly by ships of the Australian Navy and of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy. Ihe piimarv object is to maintain the highest possible efficiency by carrying out combined exercises—exercises that are more extended than are possible with the ships of either section alone. Every cruise is designed to give the personnel intensive training and practical exercises in the various phases of naval warfare, and the visits of the ships to ports of Australia strengthen the bonds between the two parts of the Empire. This year marked the reintroduction of the system of training New Zealand cadets for the New Zealand Staff Corps or the Royal New Zealand Artillery at the Royal Military College of Australia. Several New Zealand cadets joined the Royal Military College at Paddington during the first term of this year. There has also been increased cooperation between the two-.J)ominions in munition supplies. Some time ago the Director of Artillery of the New Zealand Military Forces (Colonel F. Symon) visited Australia for the purpose of inspecting the facilities for the manufacture of munitions and to discuss co-ordination between the two Dominions. Last year a large quantity of artillery ammunition was reconditioned and filled with high explosive in Australia for the New Zealand Military Forces, and it is understood that there have been subsequent orders for shell and associated stores. PRINCIPLES OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

The following (says the Sydney Morning Herald) may be regarded as an authoritative statement of the principles of Imperial, and Australian and New Zealand, defence, which are the basis of the policies of the two Governments, and which will provide the background of the pending discussions in New Zealand : (1) Defence of seaborne trade: — Naval forces are required for the defence of seaborne trade on the ocean routes and in local waters, with air co-operation in narrow waters, and for reconnaissance and observation. For the operation of these naval forces, adequately defended bases on the trade routes are essential, and conversely a means should exist for the destruction of enemy bases, from which the enemy may attack trade. All parts of the Empire have a vital interest in the maintenance of seaborne trade, and in the provision and

maintenance of the forces and bases necessary for its security. (2) Defence against invasion-The provision of sea power for the defence of seaborne trade simultaneously furnishes the first line of defence against invasion by seaborne, land or air forces. Supplementary to sea power, the army organisation provides for a field army as a deterrent against invasion, and the Air Force organisation for aircraft for co-operation. (3) Defence against raids:—Supplementary to sea power as a general defence against raids by naval forces, or seaborne, land, or air forces, the Army and Air Force organisations provide for the defence of vital localities by means of artillery and anti-aircraft artillery defences and garrisons; military forces sufficient to deal with landing parties where such operations are feasible; and co-operation of aircraft. Secure bases from which the Navy can operate are also available to the mercantile marine as ports, havens and places of assembly for convoy. In addition to their provision at naval bases and important ports, fixed defences are necessary for those centres whose destruction might be carried out by raids, and whose loss would compel submission or imperil the capacity to offer resistance. (4) Preservation of internal security: —ln advanced societies, where the civil police is sufficient to maintain internal security, but in less civilised territories, where tlie greater part of the population is, in varying degrees, subject to an outbreak of primitive passions, armed forces may be required. (5) Protection of tlie rights of British citizens in foreign countries :— The forces provided for national security and their reserves arc normally sufficient for the settlement of these cases. (6) Empire co-operation and expansion of effort:—The plan of Imperial defence provides for the organisation and expansion of each part ol the Era pire of its resources for its own security, in pursuance of the principle that its local defence is the primary responsibility ol each Dominion. The correlation or these individual efforts is the basis of co-operation in Imperial defence, the plans of which cover tlie naval, military, air, munitions supply, and economic and financial aspects of preparedness. The mobility of the lorces of the Empire is essential to make the cooperation effective, and ability to move by sea is provided by adequate naval strength and securely defended bases. The full mobility of air forces is dependent upon an Imperial chain of landing grounds and flying boat anchorages. (7) The implementing of treaty obligations :—As treaties. are arrangements by means of which interests are safeguarded, the commitments involved in them have a close relation to national defence. The Covenant of the League imposes on all members obligations which they may be called upon to implement by military action, and though no special provision beyond the forces for national security is necessary, the liability of the obligation cannot be overlooked. COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE. The Committee of Imperial Defence, which is responsible for laying down the general principles of Empire defence, was originally constituted in 1904, but its constitution and functions were modified in 1923. The President is the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and its members include the Lord President of the Council, the Secretaries of State for War and for Air, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, Dominion Affairs, the Colonics and India, the Chiefs of Staff of the three fighting services, and tlie Permanent Secretary to the Treasury as head of the Civil Service.. Other British or Dominion Ministers and officials, or persons having special qualifications, are summoned to attend, according to the nature of the business.