EMPIRE LACKS DEFENCE POLICY

Chronicle (Levin), 11 May 1946, Page 5

EMPIRE LACKS DEFENCE POLICY

Press Assn

By Telegraph

.-Copyright

Received Friday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, May 9. The melaneholy faet that the British Empire lacks a defence pulicy, emei-ged with startling ciarity from the Pariiamentary exehanges on Britain's surrendel* in Egypt, yet lmperial defenee is supposed to be the most important item on the agenda of the eurrent conferenees with Dominion Ministers, says the Daily ]\lail in an editorial. The Egyptian affair has shownlhat the discussion in that respect was hollow and incoiielusive. It tvas perhaps too mtieh to hope that a cohereut policy would evolve from the intermittent desultory talks whieh had been proeeeding- in London. The Daily Mailadds: "We are still in the position where the British Government may present the Dominions with an aecomplished faet and by so doin-g, may elaim to have "consulted" thein. The truth is that the Dominions have very little say in questions of foreign policy and defenee which are the primary responsibilities of Great Britain. This has worked well enough up to now because British Governments could be trusted to safeguard lmperial interests but times have ehanged. An Empire defenee policy has become urgent for other reasons. In any future war there would be no time to' concert plans and build up def'ences. These must be prepared if the Empire is to remain secure and world peace preserved."