DANGERS APPARENT

Southland Times, Issue 22478, 14 November 1934, Page 7

DANGERS APPARENT

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE NEEDS.

(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 12. Mr R. A Eden, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, speaking at Stratford-on-Avon, said he was not an alarmist about the future of Europe. He did not believe in the imminence of war, but no man could deny the difficulties and dangers of the present time. Britain’s responsibilities must be shouldered, and while supporting the League of Nations, working for the Disarmament Conference, and seeking to strengthen the collective peace system, they could not in the interval ignore the needs of their own defence, the strength or weakness of which might one day have a formidable consequence for the peace of the world. He had never believed in unilateral disarmament. Britain’s armaments must be directly related to those of other countries, and she could never be indifferent to the policies in this respect which were being pursued by other nations, whether in Europe or elsewhere. On the other hand, the view of the National Government was that the signature of a general disarmament convention would reduce the chance of war and bring a sense of security to a distracted world. STRONGER DEFENCES URGED NEW ZEALAND’S VULNERABILITY. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Melbourne, November 13. While emphasizing a keen desire for peace, the delegates to the Empire Service League Conference yesterday agreed to the motion of the Hon. William Perry (New Zealand) urging that Britain should increase her sea, land and air defences to guard the national honour. Mr Perry spoke as a delegate from one of the most vulnerable parts of the Empire. He said Britain had reduced her defences to such an extent as imperilled the safety of the Empire. It was possible that the present Navy was inadequate to protect the trade routes.'