EUROPEAN UNREST

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 8

EUROPEAN UNREST

BRITISH INFLUENCE IMPERIAL DEFENCE The delicate task of the British Government in its endeavours to exercise a steadying and pacific influence in Europe was discussed by Lord Elibank during the course of a broadcast address recently. “ You will no doubt have been very confused by tho reports of choppings and changes which have been taking place politically, especially in foreign policy in the United Kingdom; but if you lived as near to Europe as wo do you would understand this better. During tho past few years the conditions generally of Europe have been worse than have ever been known,” said Lord Elibank. “ There has been a state of unrest and turbulence unequalled in history. Governments have fallen and dictatorships have arisen. More than two-thirds of Europe is under the iron control of five men. These dictators have kept not only Europe, but the world, in a constant state of alarm and anxiety as to what their next steps would be. They have shifted and altered their policies from day to day, but their chief aim seems to be to build up their countries so as to exalt themselves. In doing this they have defied the League of Nations and carried out their own sweet will, irrespective of the effects on other nations, and for this purpose they have built up huge armies, air forces, and armaments, again in spite of every measure that has been taken by other nations, especially Great Britain, to reduce theirs. ; “PROOF OF THE PUDDING.” ' “ The Government of Great Britain through all this time has been attempting to provide a steadying and pacific influence. Obviously not knowing what was going to happen from day to day in Europe, the British Government has not been able to be absolutely consistent, and Britain’s foreign policies have constantly had to be reviewed and revised all the time. This has led to a charge of inconsistency and incompetency by opponents of tho Government, but I would like to tell you that after all the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and that it is the fact that by-elections that have taken place since the General Election of 1935 have shown that the National Government, led by Mr Stanley Baldwin, stands as strong in Great Britain now; as it did then. BENEFITS OF SACRIFICES. “ We in the Home country are now reaping the benefits of the sacrifices we made through the Lard times in taxation, reduced wages, and other things. We are also reaping the benefit of the fiscal changes we made in introducing tariffs and Empire preferences, and today the economic and political situation of Great Britain is in a better state than it has been for many a long day, and we have been able, with very little extra taxation, to face up to the large rearmament scheme which has been rendered necessary by these European dissensions. W© are spending huge sums not only for our own defences, but for Imperial defence as well, and we do it gladly, because we have confidence in ourselves and. in our future and in that of tho Empire. We are glad also that New. Zealand and other parts of the Empire, owing , to similar characteristics and remedies, have been able to emerge from their difficulties, and now and in the future we must march forward altogether, ready, I hope, to take tho leadership which is necessary in the settlement of any disputes which may arise to threaten world peace.”