DEFENCE POLICY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3938, 11 August 1937, Page 6

DEFENCE POLICY

ALTHOUGH the Government itself has been extremely reticent concerning its defence policy—doubtless with the best of reasons—the president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr W. E. Leadley, has had no hesitation in declaring that there need be no apprehension as to the adequacy of the preparations for the adequate defence of New Zealand. Having had the advantage of what he described as “ inside information,” Mr Leadley said a few days ago that the Government was not “ falling down on its job,” as the estimates would subsequently show. It was preparing to do its part, he added, in line with other Empire countries. The people of New Zealand will be pleased to believe that this version of our defence policy is the correct one, despite the unofficial nature of its source. Mr Savage at any rate appears to confirm the impression which was conveyed by Mr Leadley, for he has said that he sought advice in London on the question of so regulating New Zealand’s defence policy as to make it fit into the Imperial plan. The Imperial Conference devoted a great deal of attention to the aspect of Empire defence. The members of the conference, in one important resolution, pledged themselves, on behalf of their respective Governments, to “ adopt such measures of defence as they may deem essential for their security, as well as for the fulfilment of such international obligations as they may respectively have assumed.” Another resolution stated that the members of the conference, “ while themselves firmly attached to the principles of democracy and to parliamentary forms of government, desire to register their view that differences of political creed should be no obstacle to friendly relations between Governments and countries.” These are vitally important principles, and their unqualified acceptance by the various Empire Governments should admit of the Imperial defence plan being seen in true perspective. The Empire still confronts the world as a commonwealth of free nations, but its strength in the face of aggression would be the combined strength of all the self-gov-erning units. The interests of the British countries are identical in respect of defence.