GROWING BRITISH MIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 13 April 1939, Page 8

GROWING BRITISH MIGHT

AN IMMENSE ASSET Britain had not the smallest wish to attack anyone else, said Lord Zetland, Secretary for India, in a speech at Liverpool. But that was not to say that if she were attacked she should not hit back. Britain should hit hack hard. She had the machines and had the men, and hei strength in both machines and men was increasing with every day that went by. In voluntary collaboration with industry and labour Britain had created a vast organisation which was supplying her with ships, with guns, with aeroplanes. with equipment for defence second to that of no other nation. There were persons abroad who, while admitting the magnitude of the British rearmament programme, look comfort to themselves from their belief that the voluntary system would fail to give the necessary man power to make the programme effective. He believed that to be a profound misleading of the British character, and he trad little doubt that, so long as the people knew how best they could serve, they would respond to their country’s call. It would be a mistake to suppose that the st length of a nation consisted only in its leaririauients and the lighting forces. British financial stability and economic stiengllr constituted an immense asset, and it was clearly the duty of the Govern- , ntent to maintain and foster them.