THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1936 DEFENCE AND MAN-POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1936 DEFENCE AND MAN-POWER

Reports that the British Government intends shortly to introduce conscription are probably based more on the realities of the situation than on any official statements. The difficulties of the War Office are known. The Army is some 10,900 below the strength of its regular establishment of 105,000; were it fully manned it would be barely equal to ordinary requirements ; at present extraordinary circumstances call for the presence of two divisions in Palestine, denuding British depots and some overseas garrisons. Hence there is no margin, no reserve against contingencies that might at any moment, in the present unsettled state of the world, involve the greatest Imperial Power. Far from being able to make any military contribution to the League's system of collective security, Britain possesses an Army scarcely equal to discharging its Imperial responsibilities. The Territorial Army is in no better shape, being 25 per cent below strength on a count six months ago. An intensive recruiting campaign since then has improved the Territorial standing, but left the Regulars in the old straits. That is why there is talk of conscription in Britain. The position is dangerous, a fact that is realised by Government and people. In New Zealand we have not got even so far as the point of realisation. The Government has yet to decide whether land forces are necessary in defence, and the people are content to rest in a false sense of security. How far the Dominion lives from the real world is proved by the sending of Mr. Jordan to Geneva armed with a Government memorandum stating that New Zealand "believes" this and "is prepared" to do that, when, whatever her beliefs, she is prepared to do nothing whatsoever, neither for the League, nor as her proportionate part in the defence of the Empire and of her own shores.

While Britain is uneasily conscious of her vulnerability and her danger, and is making unprecedented peacetime efforts to improve her defences, she has yet to open the human heart of the question—and that is manpower. Less difficulty is being found in recruiting for Navy and Air Force, but the Army remains obstinately below the very modest strength demanded. How to make good this shortage is exercising all responsible minds in Britain. The leaders want to be sure that all other ways have been tried before resorting to conscription. British public opinion would accept that last resort most reluctantly. It is a curious reflection that there, as in New Zealand, the State is called on by citizens for many things, but the idea that it should in return make calls on citizens is anathema. Have the British forgotten that duties go with rights, that privileges impose responsibilities? Have they to learn lessons in sacrifice from the dictatorships? Shall it be said that from the British, to whom much has been given, nothing can be expected 1 ? It is certain, at any rate, that British leaders hesitate to ask for service from the people in defence of all that Britain and the Empire stands for and is. Mr. Stanley Baldwin has pledged himself again and again that conscription would never be introduced in his time as Prime Minister. The Secretary for War, Mr. Duff Cooper, while hard up against the fact of thin battalions and depleted depots, recently declared his devotion to the voluntary principle. Yet the recruiting position in face of the present need and the future outlook is so insecure that within a few days of the War Secretary's speech the alternative of conscription was raised in the House of Commons in level tones by the Liberal leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair. Nor is it surprising that to-day, six months later, after an intensive campaign to enlist men for the Regulars has failed, the logic of the facts—the menacing facts —should turn the discussion back to conscription again.

Britain's Minister of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, who is charged with co-ordinating the defensive system, has come closer to a declaration on the issue than any of his colleagues, and no doubt because knowledge compels him. " If," he said, "we are not to resort to methods of conscription, there will have to be some other ways of providing the foi-ces which may be necessary. I wish that people would do just a little quiet thinking on this question." To judge by the British press since then, its news and correspondence columns, Sir Thomas has his wish. While New Zealand still slothfully slumbers, Britain is thinking how to preserve freedom and yet avoid conscription. Possibly some compromise between the voluntary and compulsory principles is at present being worked out, some development of the ideal of physical fitness through training. This may have given rise to the London reports published this morning. But whatever scheme the Government may have in mind, there is apparent in Britain to-day a mood that will insist it shall prove effective. Signor Mussolini has done Britain and most of the Empire a good turn in proving to them that they could not have security on the cheap. To be influential for peace, they must be strong. Britain, Canada, Australia and South Africa are applying the lesson. The Commonwealth Minister of Defence, Sir Archdale Parkhill, is enabled to announce proudly that the peacetime militia establishment has been almost fully enrolled to a strength of 35,000. New Zealand, alone among the self-governing members of the Empire, refuses to accept her responsibilities.and closes her eyes to danger.