DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19030, 2 June 1936, Page 7

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

POSITION OP DOMINIONS IMPORTANCE OF AIR ARM MANCHESTER PRESS VIEW (Elec. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.) LONDON, June 1. Discussing the question of the Dominions and defence, the Manchester ’Guardian reviews the position in (he Pacific and the Mediterranean. It gives the opinion that had League action defeated Signor Mussolini with the formal help of the Soviet and the informal help of the United States, it would have opened at least the possibility that the League, again aided by the United States, might have affected the course of events in the Far East. “There is now a ‘foreign’ section in the British Cabinet which desires a .settlement with Signor Mussolini and the return of the British fleet from the Mediterranean,” continues the Guardian. “It that were done the anxieties of the Dominions would not be lessened, for the fleet would be in the North Sea and thus for the Dominions the Longue would offer no shelter. If Signor Mussolini should win, tho British fleet would he immobilised in Eta rope with the United States building a great; fleet- Still an observer in the Dominions is left wondering whether Japan and Italy may yet take the wings which the Chinese proverb says should not be given to tigers; hence the lively discussions in Australia and Canada about defence.’’

The Guardian concludes by stating that the aeroplane has unequalled mobility and is the readiest, means whereby, if the worst happened, the different parts of the British Commonwealth could come to each other’s aid.