DOMINION’S ATTITUDE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 227, 23 August 1935, Page 2

DOMINION’S ATTITUDE.

IN EVENT OF WAR. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Eorbes) stated to-day that since bis return to New Zealand his attorn tion had been drawn to the number of resolutions passed by various bodies in New Zealand and to the number of communications that had been forwarded to him from certain quarters in connection with the statement lie was alleged to have made while in Canada concerning the position of New Zealand should Great Britain be at war. Sonjo point was mado of this matter by way of interjection at the civic reception to himself and Rt. Hon. J, G. Coates last night. Mr Forbes stated that what lie said on the subject in Canada was in precisely the same terms as the statement ho had mado in the House last Februarv.

“In this statement,” said Mr Forbes, “which was laid on the table as a Parliamentary Paper, 1 said: ‘There must be no blinking the fact that if Great Britain became involved in a war New Zealand would also be involved. This is so,’ 1 added, ‘not only because of the legal position as we acee.pt it in New Zealand (though thero is some difference of opinion on this matter in certain other Dominions) it is so because the sentiment of this country would inevitably insist on New Zealand standing shoulder to shoulder with Great Britain in such circumstances, and even were these two reasons absent any catastrophe that affects Grtat Britain must inevitably affect New Zealand also, bound up as wo are in the welfare of the Old Country. This is nothing more than a statement of the actual position.’ _ , “The statement I made in Canada has apparently reached New Zealand in a garbled form,” said Mr Forbes, “and it is apparently alleged that 1 said that, in such circumstances, New Zealand would automatically proceed to fight and that there would be no necessity to call Parliament. I said nothing of the sort, and obviously should such a dire eventuality arise the very first step that would certainly liavo to bo taken in New Zealand would bo to call Parliament together to consider the position. I actually said this in Canada, hut that portion of my remarks was apparently omitted from the message sent to New Zealand.”