DEFENCE NEEDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 5

DEFENCE NEEDS

BRITISH LABOUR VIEW ESSENTIAL TO SECURITY ENVOYS FROM SPAIN CHEERS AT CONFERENCE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 7, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 6. “I am going to speak bluntly. Britain in 1931 was secure in the military, naval and air sense; to-day, that security has gone. If a Labour Government were in power to-morrow, it would he compelled to proceed to increase British armaments.'' These remarks were made by Dr. Hugh Dalton, the Labour member of the House of Commons for Bishop Auckland, when moving a resolution, which opened a lively debate at the conference of the Labour Party at Edinburgh.

He proceeded to say that treaty break’ ing had become a daily Fascist habit, Tlie Government had a crushing responsibility for what had happened.

“The sly evasions of Sir John Simon, v the prim pretences of Sir Samuel Hoare, the feeble amiability of Mr. Anthony Eden, the lazy lack of leadership of Mr. Stanley Baldwin, and the senile vanity of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald,” had contributed to the plight of Britain and the world, added Dr. Dalton. After further criticising the present Government, Dr. Dalton said the time had come when Britain must say to the Fascist States: “There, is a limit; so far and no further.” However, she must also say: “Come and join us and state your grievnees.’ Mr. Arthur Henderson, seconding the motion, said the raw materials of the world must he pooled. MUTUAL SUPPORT ..... Lord Strabolgi said the time had come when democratic and socialistic powers must be armed for mutual support. “I don’t want the Labour Party or the Government to be weak and left- open to bullying, blackmailing and threats by Fascist Powers,” he said. Mr. George Lansbury opposed the motion. He said that armaments could not save the world. Even the dictatorship nations must he brought to the round table and. led along the road to peace. Mr. O. Dukes said the dictator nations should be told that if they wanted a decision by the sword Britain would not flinch. Major O. R. Attlee, winding up the debate, denied that the motion committed. the Labour Party to the Government's rearmament policy. Labour, ho said, would continue to criticise the armaments’ programme and decline to give a -blank cheque. That did not mean that they raid no arms wore required. Collective security must be backed by sufficient force to deal with an aggress sor. “We are not prepared to he conquered by Fascism, either from without or within,” he said. A card vote resulted: For the motion ... 1,738,003 Against the motion ... ..657,000 A scene occurred at the conference before lunch, when the _ secretary announced the arrival by air of two envoys from Spain. The delegates rose and cheered the envoys, Senor Asua and Senora Isabel de Palencia, who will address the conference later. AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE SAFETY FROM ATTACK PARTY FACES REALITIES (Reed. Oct. 7, 12.10 pun.) CANBERRA, Oct. 7. The leader of the Federal Labour Party, Mr. J. Curtin, has announced the party’s allegiance to a defence scheme, “commensurate with Australia’s ability to maintain it and adequate for Australia’s needs.”

Mr. Curtin declared that no other country, not even Britain, -could come to the rescue in time if Australia were attacked. Australia’s defence had to be assured by herself. It was the realisation of this fact that dictated the whole consideration of the defence policy by the Australian Labour movement.