GUARD EMPIRE FIRST

Chronicle (Levin), 7 November 1946, Page 9

GUARD EMPIRE FIRST

>h Press- Assn.-

Best Safeguard to U.N. ^ ■ ;» " ADV1CE TO DOMINIONS '

By Telegrap

•Copyright

Reeeived Wednesday, 11.25 p.m. ' LGNDON, Nov. 6. Field-Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, in a speeeh at tlie Boyal Empire Society, complained of "a tendency among some Dominion-states-men to place Uno's interests above tkose of the British Commonwealth." He added that before the last war there was a siinilar tendency in connection witH the Leagne of Nations. The best way to safeguard Uno's ultimate suc-' cess was to guard it against any major crisis during its infaney. This could best be achieved by supporting to the utmost the well established organisation of the British Commonwealth, while fostering the b.onds of friendship and blood binding it to America. "There is a tendency in some quarters to regard Uno as a fully established buiwark against war. Nevertheless, without any wisk to belittle its future, we must recognise that it is in its infaney and is suffering from serious teething troubles. It will inevitabJy require years to reach maturity and ability to make its influence felt." Sir Alan Brooke added that there were four fundamental requirements for Empire defence. kirstly, recognition by British peoples that peace depended on the Commonwealth 's solidarity before any other faetor; secondly, the existence Yvithin each Commonwealth of a zone of responsk bilty. Each British nation must be prepared to play its part fully and not leave Britain to carry a disproportionate burden. Empire defence should be coordinatcd by a combined Chiefs of Staff organisation like that between Britain and America during the war. There was no doubt that modern weapons such as air bonibardment, longrange rockets, improved submarines and atomie bombs had seriously 3veakened Commonwealth security by greatly increasing the vulnerability of its heart — United Kingdom. It was in United Kingdom that the bulk of defensivc resources were concentrated. There were too many valuable and vulnerable eggs in this yery.small seriously exposed) iiasiet. ; u .i: {i"i