CRITICS OF PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 9

CRITICS OF PLAN

LABOUR AND LIBERALS WHITE PAPER DEBATED INTERESTS OF THE EMPIRE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 18, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 17 In continuing the debate on defence in the House of Commons, Mr. F. W. Pethick-Lawrence (LabourEdinburgh East) criticised the White Paper and the Chancellor's statement. ' f The member contended that these revealed neither a considered con- , neetion between the Government's , defenco programme and its inter- } national policy—particularly in re lation to the theory of collective j security—nor any sign of the real co-ordination of defence. There was no sign eithor of a firm conception of essential strategic con- ' sideration such as would ensure s efficiency in planning the defence of : the country. The Labour Party would oppose the finance resolution because it proposed, instead of placing the burden on the 1 broadest backs, by appropriation, to impose, by the inflationary influence of further Government borrowing, a disguised tax on prices, which would fall on those least able to bear it. j Possibility of Triple Attack j Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal I | Loader, said they faced the possibility j ; of a triple attack against the Em- I j pire, in the Far East, in the Mediterranean, and a knockout blow at the heart of the Empire. "We are entitled to know," he said, "whether the Government's policy is collective security, military alliance or isolation. "Vast expenditure on armaments must force up prices, and the Government should satisfy us that it is taking effective measures to make these armaments unnecessary." In enunciating a policy of removing the causes of armament, Sir Archibald urged the Government to strive for the abolition of quotas, for Imperial preference and for the restoration of the open door in the colonial Empire. He also urged the appointment of commissions to investigate the grievances of dissatisfied nations. Loan Economically Unwise Sir Archibald added that while scrutinising the estimates carefully the Liberals would vote for whatever armaments were necessary for the defence of the country and for peace. The rearming of certain Powers in Europe—though he thought moral responsibility for it might well be found by history to belong to the post-war policy of the victors in the Great War—left no alternative but to raise Britain's defences to the necessary level. Sir Archibald criticised the loan proposals as economically unwise in the present phase of business recovery, and expressed doubts as to the effectiveness of the measures to be taken to prevent profiteering. ( Attitude Toward Dominions Dr. Hugh Dalton (Labour —Durham) asked whether the Dominions were going to contribute to the common I cost of defence, also whether additional i contributions were in sight from the j colonies to be defended ? Mr. Chamberlain, intervening, said Britaih had not got a single particular i Power for an enemy nor was she in alliance with other Powers on whose - aid she could count. ! "We must consider the whole series of hypothetical emergencies in which we may be opposed' by this or that i Power," said the Chancellor. "We t must draw up a defence programme j which will make us feel as safe as 1 possible against this hypothetical set of emergencies. "According to Sir Archibald Sinclair the whole of the trouhles of the world are duo to Imperial preference. If he had his way he would probably soon lose us the Empire.. "It is true that wo are dependent largely for our supplies of essential materials on the Dominions," said Mr. Chamberlain. "In that sense, therefore, the dispersal of the Dominions throughout the world does lay a special duty on the Navy, but there is no intention of calling on the Dominions to contribute to a common fund. The Dominions have spent a great deal in perfecting and improving their own defences. That is their contribution to a common fund. No other form of contribution is under discussion at present." '

ITALIANS IMPRESSED AMAZED AT VAST COST FASCIST COUNCIL TO MEET ROME, Feb. 17 Italians are impressed by Britain's determination to re'pair her armament deficiencies, but they are amazed at the vast expenditure involved. Some critics state that Britain and France now are leading the armaments race to heights which the poorer countries will not be able to follow without intolerably burdening their citizens. Italy's response is expected on March 1 when the Fascist Grand Council is to meet to examine tho entire military situation "in relation to its requirements."