BRITISH DIPLOMACY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 14 October 1938, Page 7

BRITISH DIPLOMACY

Must Be Backed By Power MR. CHAMBERLAIN RIGHT (By Telegraph—Pre-e Association —Copyright, LONDON. Oct. 13. Earl Winterton, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, speaking at Worthing, said that Mr. Chamberlain was absolutely right when he declared that the power of British diplomacy must depend upon the force behind it. Britain’s ability to find a lasting settlement in Western Europe depended on the state of the defences of England and the spirit of its people. In dictatorship countries, every man. woman, and child had allotted to them in peace time duties which they would have to perform in war time. Nobody wanted to see a system of that kind in Britain, but to compete in the European struggle for power with the dictatorship countries, British voluntary efforts must be of much greater extent than they had been up to now. Mobilisation of Industry At. the conference in Claston of the National Chamber of Trade, attention was directed to the question of the mobilisation of industry and other essential services. Mr. Chamberlain’s assurance of prompt inquiry into the position of preparedness in peace against emergency was welcomed. The president, in his address, said that the emergency drew a ready response to the call of duty, but that willingness to serve must be linked with workable plans. The directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce have passed a resolution urging the early introduction of a scheme to organise now in time of peace, the work and national service of every able-bodied citizen to achieve the maximum of national effort in time of war. It is further maintained in the resolution that the country would heartily endorse an appropriate scheme of national service or registration and the Government is asked to give an immediate lead on these lines. Territorial Army Plans The War Office announces details of wider opportunities for territorial army officers to be trained in staff duties. Fifty captains or senior lieutenants will be trained annually to fill staff appointments in the event of mobilisation. The scheme has been evolved with due regard to the fact that territorial army officers, being engaged in civil occupations, cannot easily, in any number, take up residence at a staff college. It has, therefore, been arranged to train these officers on the theoretical side of staff work in their own homes by a kind of postal course, details of which are given in a War Office statement. After the theoretical side has been mastered in this way there will be a second pars consisting of a practical course lasting a fortnight to be held at a staff college itself during Auguse. After this the officers attending will be placed as having qualified or otherwise. The course will begin in November, and it is stated that the Army Council hopes the standard of military knowledge and efficiency in the territorial army will be much improved. Nearly 1000 recruits were accepted .'or the regular army last week. The increase for all arms numbered 949, an increase of 528 over the corresponding week of 1937. Balloon Barrage The results of the small scale exercise held by the London balloon barrage on Saturday are, the Air Ministry states, satisfactory and useful. Only a few balloons were flown from their war sites, but most of these sites were chosen as being the most difficult from an operational point of view. Inflating and letting up were carried out without a hitch under unfavourable weatner. Although four balloons broke loose the cause was technical and simple of rectification. CONSTITUENTS TOLD FIRST LORD’S REASONS FOR RESIGNING f British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 12. Mr. Anthony Duff-Cooper explained] to the executive committee of the

Conservative Association in his constituency the reasons for his resignation as First Lord of the Admiralty. A resolution was carried realising that, having held his views, no othercourse was open to him. The committee, however, declared themselves in full agreement with the action of Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister, and with the Government's policy, and was satisfied that Mr. Duff-Cooper, as long as he remained their member, would direct his efforts and ability to the preservation of unity in the party and would support the Government, especially in the strengthening of the defences.