BRITAIN PREPARED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 9

BRITAIN PREPARED

PLANS FOR EMERGENCY COMPLETE TRADE PROTECTION FORMIDABLE DEFENCES STATEMENT BY MINISTER (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, May 31. (Received May 31, at 7.30 p.m.) “ Joint plans have been prepared by the Navy and the Royal Air Force for every emergency and for providing complete trade protection,” said the Minister for the Coordination of Defence (Sir Thomas Inskip), in a broadcast address. “ Scientists are helping in the task of air defence,” Sir Thomas continued, “ and some of the latest discoveries are already coming into use. An enemy may expect to encounter some formidable and, perhaps, unexpected forms of defence.” Labour Demands Labour members became alarmed in the House of Commons when Sir Thomas Inskip said that in the event of war there was certain to be a competent authority to allocate a suitable position for each individual. Nobody could escape from it by choosing an attractive position in peace time, for instance in the territorial or air raid wardens.

Mr J. Cluter- Ede (Labour) interpreted this statement as meaning that legislative machinery has already been devised for conscription. Other Labour members demanded to know if the plans included conscription of labour and wealth. Sir Thomas emphasised that the plans would be subject to submission to the House at the proper time. ■ . Labour speakers contended that the plans should be produced in the House and demanded an opportunity for a full discussion. The debate automatically ended at 11.30 p.m. NO CHANGE OS POLICY STATEMENT EXPLAINED CONSCRIPTION ONLY IN WAR TIME LONDON, May 31. (Received June 1, at 1.15 a.m.) The political correspondent of the Associated Press states that conscription will be submitted to Parliament for instant introduction immediately war occurs —this is the actual meaning of Sir Thomas Inskip’s statement in the House of Commons, the suddenness and unexpectedness of which, occurring in a minor debate when only 50 members were in the Chamber, caused exaggerated surprise, which was stimulated by Labour members in an attempt to seek political capital. Apart from the circumstances in which it was made, the statement contained nothing new. It did not go. beyond Mr Chamberlain’s earlier declarations, nor did it alter the Government’s unequivocal assurances that conscription will not be introduced in peace-time. AIR RAID MENACE DEFENCE IN BRITAIN WOMEN VOLUNTEERS! SOUGHT LONDON, May 24, Although gas had not been used in Spain or in China, it might be used in a war against Britain, said the Home Secretary (Sir Samuel Hoare) to-day. He was making a public appeal for 600,000 more women to volunteer for work in AirRaid Precautions Service. The object is to bring the total up to 1,000,000. “Once again,” said the Minister, “ I speak under the shadow of threatening clouds, I hope and believe that the storm will pass. Nevertheless, the wise citizen will set his house in order against possible risks. “ Passive defence is an essential part of defence. Critics wrongly assert that the precautions are humbug and say we have started at the wrong end with gas niasks, pointing out that nobody has been attacked with gas in Spain or China. “But Britain is a different target. Gas bombs, with incendiary and high explosives, might be a most formidable instrument of panic in some future attack. “We must bring to this difficult task the fresh mind, untiring devotion and keen imagination which have already made women’s work a priceless treasure of our national life.”