NAVY LEAGUE DINNER

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1928, Page 5

NAVY LEAGUE DINNER

MR AMEKY’S OPINIONS. ;■

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, October ,23. Toasting Nelson’s immortal memory at the Navy. League dinner, Mr L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary for the, Dominions, . declared that -in statesmanship since the war the ■■ most difficult task*. had been to strike a balance) between ~ upholding . unflinchingly the essentials , _... of security and contributing to woild . * peace.' He emphasised tiny point that the Navy’s training, spirit and organ- > isation had never been finer. Since, the-war dispositions had been made-to j . suit new Imperial needs. j - Defending the Government’s policy, relating to the Anglo-French pact, he recalled the fact that when .the proposals were tabled in 1927 they were promptly so misinterpreted; They had not had a fair chance; All .the world said-- “ What fools you are to go blun-. deriiig like that 1 Why not prepare ' the ground ? ” * Consequently, when * France proposed the compromise Britain felt bound to assist, .but communicated the proposals to the Powers . concerned. Again we were accused of conspiring with France The present policy was utterly unacceptable to the United States. Personally, Air Amery said, he was not sure whether Britain would not be better advised to stand outsidse Ruro- , v pean nations. Britain had no desire to combine with any Power on the , present naval programme-^