EMPIRE DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22000, 5 January 1935, Page 9

EMPIRE DEFENCE

FULL PLAN PREDICTED

SIR M. HANKEY'S MISSION

FRANK STATEMENT URGED

By Telegraph—Press Association— CopyrlM

LONDON, Jan. 3

Although Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, is not due to reach England until next Sunday, on his return from visits to Australia, New Zealand and Canada, some of the newspapers already are giving prominence to the reported outcome of his tour, which the Daily Herald features as the forerunner of a full scheme of Empire defence. The Herald states that the Labour Party will make .another attempt to secure from the Prime Minister, Mr.. Mac Donald, a frank statement about these "mysterious transactions." In the meantime, if Mr. Mac Donald does not expedite his statement the public in the Dominions will soon know far more about the mission than even the members of the House of Commons. In an editorial article the Herald recalls Mr. Baldwin's appeal to Germany to tear away the veil of secrecy surrounding her military preparations, and adds: "It is stupid, mischievous and intolerable that Sir Maurice's perfectly sensible and proper mission should be given the appearance of a furtive conspiratorial errand by Mr. Mac Donald's pitiful attempt to persuade the House of Commons that he was on a private holiday. The newest revelations about the mission make it imperative that the veil of secrecy should be torn and that the Government should give the world a full and frank statement of defence preparations in the Empire." The» Manchester Guardian sarcastically contrasts Mr. Mac Donald's emphasis on the fact that Sir Maurice'# visit to the Dominions has no political significance with reports from Australia in reference to his recommendations. It says that whether Australia should or should not have conscription is a matter for the Australians themselves to decide. The paper adds: "No doubt the Australian Government asked for Sir Maurice's opinion, but it is clearly a serious thing and a most important departure in policy for the Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence to advise Australia to introduce conscription. One must ask in what capacity and as the representative of vhom, or for what body of opinion, Sir Maurice is now speaking." After Sir Maurice Hankej'e visit to New Zealand the Prime Minister. Mr. Forbes, stated that the subject or Empire defence was discussed in a general way, but that no further announcement could be made at that stage, CONSCRIPTION QUESTION "MATTER NEVER RAISED n [BY TELEGRAPH—FKEBB ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday The Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, was asked to-day to comment on the cabled message from London regarding Sir Maurice Hankey's tour through the Dominions. He said it would be foolish to take any notice of the message. When Sir Maurice was in New Zealand the question of conscription as a means; of strengthening the Empire defences was never raised. "Nobody ever spoke of conscription here," said the Minister. "In the discussions with Sir Maurice Hankey I never heard the term used."