HOME AND IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. CONSCRIPTION NO SOLUTION, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 11. (Received Sept. 12, at 0.4 a.m.) Mr Balfour, speaking at North Berwick, said the problem of Indian defence cannot be solved by conscription. No country in Western Europe ever attempted, or would ever attempt, to employ a conscript army to defend far-distant possessions. The present Government would never be responsible for so wild an experiment. He did not believe any of its successors would ever show greater rashness in that direction than the present one. He eulogised attempts made diplomatically to ensure the maintenance of peace in the Far East; yet> Britain's right must depend in tho long run 011 Britain's might. Distinguishing next between an invasion of England on a grand scale, which was impracticable, and raids, which an efficiently trained and sufficient fore®' of Volunteers would be able to prevent, lie emphasised the value of Volunteers for freeing the regulars for oversea, service; hence they were an integral part of homo and Imperial defence. |
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 13386, 12 September 1905, Page 5
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173HOME AND IMPERIAL DEFENCE. Otago Daily Times, Issue 13386, 12 September 1905, Page 5
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