DEFENCE LOAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 69, 20 February 1937, Page 9

DEFENCE LOAN

COMMONS IN FAVOUR. BY BIG MAJORITY. OPPOSITION ANSWERED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 18. The House of Commons debate on defence continued to-day and finally the financial resolution for the big defence loan was carried by 329 votes to 145. Tiie Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (Sir Thomas inskip) said that the House itself would nave a full opportunity of safeguarding economy when the Estimates came before it. As to foreign policy, lie cited from the Foreign Secretary’s speech on January 19 the following statement: “The Government is actively engaged in re-equipment of the fighting services. We are convinced that this is an indispensable means to our objective, but it is not our objective. There remains the negotiation of a European settlement and strengthening of the authority of the League of Nations, and we are prepared to co-operate in the common work of political appeasement and economic co-operation.” Sir Thomas Inskip listed some of the many important questions of which his department had organised coordinated study—food imports, diversion of shipping in war, organisation of ports and of inland transport, food supplies and rationing in war-time, food storage, and accumulaton of raw materials. On the last point he mentioned that the Government had taken time by the forelock, and in the case of essentials for arms manufacture arrangements for storage had been made. Sir Thomas said that the Opposition had not questioned the necessity for the size of the programme, and suggested that the method of financing it was in the eyes of the world unimportant.

Sir Thomas said there -was no need to embroil the Dominions in the defence discussions.

Mr A. V. Alexander (Lab.): You ask us to pay for their defence? Sir Thomas Inskip: No. We ask this country to pay for the defence of colonies, dependencies, and those parts of the Empire on which we are depending so much for raw materials. The Dominions are conscious of the value of their association with this country and are making their own preparations at their own expense for their own defence. Insofar as the Dominions’ Governments and people have any comments on our foreign policy, let it be expressed by them and not by members of this House. Sir Stafford Cripps (Lab.) said that the House was witnessing the most magnificent subscription to a world suicide pact yet publicised in any country. Mr C. B. Attlee (Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party) said: “Every sentence in the White Paper contemplates war, not as a distant possibility, but as a certainty. We are all to live, frankly, with a gas mask in our hands.” Mr Baldwin, winding up the debate, emphasised the need to examine the causes of the ,League’s failure and to endeavour to strengthen it to meet future crises and also to bring back to the League the great Powers that had left it. OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. DOMINIONS’ DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 18. Asked in the House of Commons whether a statement could be made on the proposals of the Government to be laid before the Imperial Conference respecting a greater share in the ciist of Imperial Defence being borne by the Dominions, the Prime Minister (Mr Baldwin) replied: “While welcoming the opportunity afforded by the Imperial Conference for a discussion of defence and other problems, I would remind the House that the expenditure of the Dominions is entirely the responsibility of the Dominions.”