EMPIRE DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22987, 15 March 1938, Page 12

EMPIRE DEFENCE

BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH REASSURING STATEMENT By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Roceived March 14, 9.3G p.m.) CANBERRA, Mnrch 14 Arising from the statement made by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, in the House of Commons regarding Imperial defence and the point whether Mr. Chamberlain meant that in a time of crisis the Dominions could not rely upon British naval or military assistance, the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. A. Lyons, cabled for an elaboration of Mr. Chamberlain's statement. This was received to-day. Subsequently, Mr. Lyons said the first objective of the British Government includes not only tho protection of tho Mother Country, but the preservation of trade routes. This would bo carried out by naval forces supplemented by military and air forces, which at the same time would provide tho principal protection for British territory all over tho world. Mr. Chamberlain had assured him, said Mr Lyons, that it would be wrong to deduce from his speech that the protection of Britain's overseas possessions, because it appeared third on his list, was not regarded as of first-rato importance.