DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1923, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

NEED FOR FIXED POLICY. VOICE OF DOMINIONS. SUPPORT FOR LEAGUE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. Received June 13, 8.15 p.m. London, June 12.

Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson presided at the reading of General Sir Frederick Maurice’s paper at the Colonial Institute on “Present Problems of Imperial Defence.” In the course of the paper the writer says: “The day has passed when the Empire’s foreign policy can be adequately controlled by the British Foreign Office alone. The first step in Imperial defence is agreement ag to policy and the next step is agreement as to plans. Just as the Dominions’ statesmen should have a voice in the foreign policy, so soldiers, sailors and airmen should have a voice in the preparation of the Imperial defence plans.” General Maurice desired to see a general staff in reality. Such a body should not have executive authority and would not connote any interference with the Dominions in the control of their own forces, but would ensure timely common action. He added: “The sanest defence policy is to devote ourselves to the development of the Empire’s resources and to shun all avoidable commitments as we would a plague.” He believes it would be in the best interests of the Empire to give active support to the League of Nations. The improvement of wireless and air traffic were prime factors in Imperial defence to bring the units of the Empire closely together.