NAVY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 32, 8 February 1933, Page 12

NAVY LEAGUE

POLICY STATEMENT

PROTECTION OF EMPIRE

In conjunction with the chairman, Mr. J. T. Grose, a statement has been prepared by Mr. E. Darroch, secretary of ity'e Wellington branch of the Navy LeS|ue, on the policy of the league. Mr. "Darroch said at a.meeting of the branch yesterday, that there had been correspondence in the Press on t|ie league, and with a view to bringing the league's policy to the fore, a meeting would be held at a future date. , The statement of policy is as follows:— "The statement of policy issued by the Navy League from London three years ago is just as true to-day. ''We are often asked what is the attitude of the Navy League towards the movement for world peace and general disarmament? Answer: We favour,' on every ground, all possible economies in the scale and cost of defence that can be effected without prejudice to the security of the Empire, and we agree that in assessing our naval requirements full weight ought to be given to all international facts and understandings, and to world opinion in. the bearing of these upon the reasonable expectations of future peace. . "In the main, British naval requirements are conditioned by two things— the first, the strengths of foreign navies; the second, the wide dispersal of Imperial territory and the immense length of our trade routes, and of the seaways along which whether in peace or war the necessities of our existence must pass if we, as an Imperial and an island people, are not to perish. "As Lord Lloyd said at the annual dinner in London on 3rd November last, 'The organisation of the Navy League is as open and wide as the very sea it serves. It is bound by no politics or party. On the executive council are Liberals and Conservatives, and one of the members of the council is, a great Trades Union, leader. There are,,also members from the League of Nations Union.; Our membership, therefore, is broadly derived and is drawn from every section of the community, and every part of. the' Empire. Our propaganda is 'simply based, upon, the requirements; of an ocean people,' and. the "distances of our scattered Empire. We confess to being idealists, but we are not illusionists. We are not pugilists, nor pacifists, but wo believo in protecting our trade routes, and in keeping in unity the far flung portions of our Empire' SPIRIT OP SEA CAPTAINS. "His Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales, speaking at the Navy League dinner, said that he had always taken a great interest in the Navy League, and that he wag proud to be present on this annual occasion. He said, 'The Navy League is teaching the younger generation to realise that our geographical position makes us a maritime race, and the Navy League is teaching in all parts of the Empire that our security lies in a sufficient and an efficient Navy!' He also.referred to the magnificent work of the great sea captains of old, but for whom the British people would not only have not expanded as they have, but would have faded away into oblivion,, and he said: ' The spirit which animated those old sea captains must jbe kept alive, and that is one of th« things the Navy League is doing now. The purpose of the Navy League is to educate our people to the needs of the Navy, ana in. this connection I would like to quote what your president himself said at one of your dinners only a year or two back, "If anyone- doubts that, it can only be amongst the generation that has grown up since the war. There is no nation in the woria, and there is no empire in,history that las better canse to pray, Give peace in; our time,' than ours. '' Our Navy is a great instrument of peace at the present'time.' His Royal Highness then went on to refer to the wonderful relief work of the Navy in Napier, at Madeira,.at Cyprus, and at Shanghai.; He said that he mentioned these^to. show how essential it is that the/Navy shall be well represented in every sea.. ,• ■..- ---"In conclusion, he referred to the financial side saying, «I-do not exactly know_how much the president needs ~b H.j? ny of you can spare a little m addition to all tho other things you Jl* a + t0 do, you will U doing something to (help the splendid cans! and I know you will be doing a very fine thmg. I sincerely hope the Navy. League will be continually adding to its numbers, because it exists to enlighten and to remind the British pubhe of its maritime obligations and