POSSIBILITY OF WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 9

POSSIBILITY OF WAR

NO RISKS TO BE TAKEN BRITISH POLICY SOUND (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Nov. 20. The three days' debate on defence ended in the House of Lords with a speech by Lord Halifax. Dealing with the demand for setting up a Ministry of Supply for munitions of all kinds, he emphasised the need for considering the maintenance of the financial and economic strength of the country, together with armaments as part of national defence. They need not yet judge the situation so seriously that everything must be subordinated in securing a tremendous 'supply of arms. For example, they were trying hard to ease the flow, of international trade. Those efforts would have to stop if everything were turned over to munitions.

Dealing with Britain's liabilties, Lord Halifax said he thought the country was against automatic military obligations, and for all his fervent support of the League he would not charge membership of a nonuniversal league with such obligations. No nation could be expected to carry them out fully in every case. If fulfilment was thought contrary to their interests that was not disloyalty to the League, but recognition of realities, and the British Government had attempted to reflect realities in its proposals for reform of the League. He added that the .Government was not blind to the dangers of conflicting ideologies in Europe. It did not think any country, however exclusively inspired by self interest, was anxious now to start a European war. Concluding, he said no risks must be taken, but n' chance must be lost to remove international suspicion, and Britain sincerely meant to be friendly with all nations. DANGER FROM THE AIR STRONGER DEFENCES REQUIRED LONDON, Nov. 20. During the debate in the House of Lords Lord Trenchard, discussing Empire communications, pointed out that the Pacific and Mediterranean had been described as "arteries which, if cut, would cause us to bleed to death." But an artery could , temporarily be ligatured, whereas it would be useless if the heart were smashed. He emphaised that the greatest danger was from the air, but believed that if Britain could hold out for the first 10 weeks she would win. He wrged that there should be at least 50 aerodromes in Britain apart from Singapore. Malta. Haifa, and Aden. Lord Lloyd attacked Mr Baldwin, saying that despite the strongest mandate to earm in 1933, the Government had allowed the army to become denuded of men, with a minimum of machine guns, tanks, and anti-aircraft guns. Britain was never so unprepared for war.