THE DEFENCE LEAGUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 2

THE DEFENCE LEAGUE

Ho The Editqrl Sir, —The Defence League should feel deeply grateful to Mr McGillick for the remarks that he made at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday night about the threat Irom Japan. He gave a reasonable explantation for the puzzling inerita regarding the defence of New Zealand which is the deadly enemy that we have to fight in our midst. Few of us previously realised the depth of the inferiority complex that is afflicting some people in Australia, and presumably some in New Zealand too ; but now we realise and we understand too. Listen to his words as reported in the “Nelson Evening RlailT of Wednesday. After referring to the behaviour in ! Europe of Germany and Italy lie goes on j

“Japan will make a move in her turn. L> face of that threat, Australia and New Zealand are helpless, unless they at once open up communications with the United States, Russia, and other nations intei’esfce I in the Pacific, for mutual protection. Russian planes can be launched from a point 600 miles from Tokio. Japan would not dare to fight, for Tokio could be blown off the face of the earth !” There is much wisdom in these words although some of us might wouder what was the degree of helplessness he attributed to Australia and New Zealand and others might deplore the exaggeration in the description of the fate awaiting Tokio. The former point is made clear later. bo far Mr McGillick appears to have been quoted verbatim and now in a condensation of his talk he tells u s that, “if the Dominions increased sixfold their present expenditure on defence, they still could not face such an enemy as Japan.’’

The report then continues verbatim with the pronouncement, “those who go about suggesting that these Dominions must increase their provision for defence are only misleading the public.” There you have a simple philosophy for invertebrates. Let us sit still with our hands folded and ask some one else to do our work for us. What will the United States and Russia and the other nations think, if we ask them to embark on a crusade for our protection whilst we do nothing ourselves?

We have been told by others opposed to increased expenditure on defence that there is no danger from Japan at all ; she is too far away. Surely the truth lies betwen the two extremes. Japan is a very long way away and she will be chary of embarking on a serious adventure at lliat range unless we make the bait irresistible by continuing to neglect our defences.

We must thank Mr McGillick for throw, ing new light on the mentality of some of our own people.—l am etc.,

EDWARD LORIMER. Richmond, 13th April.