ARMS POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 October 1936, Page 7

ARMS POLICY.

LABOUR RESOLUTION

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. The following resolution on defence and armaments has been tabled by the national executive of the Labour Party for discussion at next week’s party conference at Edinburgh : “That in view of the threatening attitude of dictatorships which are increasing their armaments at an unprecedented rate, flouting international law, and refusing to co-operate in the work of the organisation of peace, this conference declares that the armed strength of the countries loyal to the League of Nations must be conditioned by the armed strength of potential aggression. The conference, therefore, reaffirms the policy of the Labour Party to maintain such defence forces as are consistent with the country’s responsibilities as a member of the League, the preservation of the people’s rights and liberties, the continuance of democratic institutions, and the observance of international law. Realising the relationship between the policy of foreign Powers and armaments, and having regard for the deplorable record of the Government, the Labour Tarty declines to accept responsibility for a purely competitive armaments policy. It reserves its full liberty to criticise the rearmament programme of the present Government, and declares the continuance of vested interests in the private manufacture of arms to be a grave contributory danger to the peace of the world.”