EMPIRE DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 15

EMPIRE DEFENCE

WORLD-WIDE SYSTEM <From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, Dec. 15. The British Empire's system of world-wide defence, of which too little notice was taken in estimating its security, was referred to by Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for Coordination of Defence, when he spoke at the annual meeting of the British Empire League. The Duke of Devonshire, Under Secretary for Dominions, presided. "We are completing our defences both at home and in other parts of the Empire," said Sir Thomas, "so that no longer may it be necessary for us to refrain from appropriate action; that no longer may our Foreign Secretary or our Prime Minister in this or any other country be hampered by consideration of weakness or default on our part." Sir Thomas said that there could be no Empire unity without adequate Empire defence. The trend of events in the economic world—the growth of competition in the export trade, the invasion of British foreign markets, the expansion of shipbuilding activities, and the establishment of barriers—emphasised the vital importance of adequate defence. The Committee of Imperial Defence was continually surveying the defences of the Empire, and great progress had been made in recent years. Plans had been made for extracting the full value of assistance from colonial territory.

Singapore, which had been a long way from completion when Japan first invaded Manchuria, a point to be remembered by critics of Britain over that incident, was to-day essential for the defence of Australia and New Zealand while it was the gateway to the Indian Ocean. To-day, the strenuous efforts of the dominions and many co-operators had resulted in the construction of an efficient naval base, and now only awaited the installation of anti-air-craft armament and minor air equipment in the coming year. There had been. a tremendous improvement in the Empire's position in the Far East consequent upon the near completion of the base.

It was interesting to observe how the subject of defence had lately become an absorbing topic in the politics of all the dominions. Australia and South Africa had both made important announcements, and New Zealand was no exception, providing for local defence and cooperation in Commonwealth defence. New Zealand was a small country, but nevertheless she was playing her full part in the support of the Empire, its defences and organisation. The Duke of Devonshire, who has succeeded his father as president of the league, emphasised the importance of personal relationship between people of one part of the Empire with people of another in maintaining Empire unity. Any organisation which made this contact easier was doing work of real value. There were 14 Empire societies recognised and encouraged by the Dominions Office, and all of them were doing good work in one direction or another. The league particularly was assisting Dominion to become acquainted with Britain's industrial life.

The Duke admitted that there was one aspect of defence worrying him, the question of man power. Unless the present tendency, both in Britain and the dominions was altered, and altered within the next few years, the Empire, with the exception of French-Canada, would be faced with a very rapid decrease in populations, a very dangerous thing. He did not believe, as was often suggested, that decreasing population would remedy unemployment; rather it would increase the ratio of total unemployment. The Overseas Settlement Board was faced with the question of whether it was desirable to increase migration in view of the declining population in Britain.

It held the view that while the matter was primarily one for the dominions, if migrants were required it was up to Britain to assist to the best of its ability. He was glad to know that the tendency for migration to flow from the dominions to Britain had been reversed in the case of Australia, at least.

On behalf of people from overseas, Mr Cecil Wray (Wanganui) expressed deep appreciation to the Duke of Devonshire and Sir Thomas Inskip, and to all people in the Old Country who devoted such an enormus amount of time and gave such a great deal of their interest to oversea affairs.

In the British Empire Club (of which he was a member of the Management Committee), something was done towards greeting people from overseas, who expressed very great appreciation for small services. A much greater service was given bv Sir Thomas when he spared his time to address them.