IMPERIAL DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21882, 18 August 1934, Page 11

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

HIGH BRITISH OFFICIAL TOUR OF DOMINIONS LONDON, August 8 Sir Maurice Hankey, secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, who will be an official guest at the Victorian Centenary celebrations, will reach Capetown on Friday. He will spend a holiday as the guest of Sir Herbert Stanley, British High Commissioner in South Africa, before- going to Melbourne.

The Daily Herald interprets Sir Maurice Hankey's journey as a mission of the highest importance in Empire defence, and says: "He will have talks with experts in South Africa, Australia, Now Zealand, and Canada on questions of military, naval and aerial strategy, in view of the Naval Conference next year, and other developments." The Daily Express says: "Sir Maurice Hankey will have an opportunity of inspecting Empire defences and discussing the strengthening of them." Sir Maurico, commenting on reports that ho proposes to discuss Imperial defence with the Australian and other Dominion Governments, said he was going to Australia as the guest of the Commonwealth. Naturally, ho would meet members of the Governments and talk with them exactly as if they were his guests. He would discuss anything they liked. Ho would speak both as Secretary of the Cabinet and as secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence. '