Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1937. ADEQUATE DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 182, 3 July 1937, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1937. ADEQUATE DEFENCE.

To those' who maj r have entertained serious doubts as to the extent of Britain’s preparedness in the event of international hostilities, the statements made this week by the Minister for the Coordination of Defence (Sir Thomas luskip) must give a deep measure of assurance. Addressing important gatherings of business meu, Sir Thomas declared that vast resources of naval fuel had been accumulated, the most important raw materials stored up in preparation for an industrial emergency, and food production increased for military and civil requirements. In addition, 122 out of the 123 air squadrons, formed after the rearmament programme had been inaugurated, would be up to full strength but two days after his speech. Further. he made it clear that the naval building programme for 1936-37 was well advanced, and “the Navy’s readiness for its task is much greater than it was twelve months ago. Biitain’s cruisers and destroyers, . having regard to the treaty limits, will provide the highest standard in power and efficiency possible today.” Again, the famous authority on naval matters, Mr Hector By water, points out in a later message that Britain’s five new battleships “are the best protected in the world”—doubtless the lesson of Jutland is being borne in mind in this respect. They combine great fighting power with a battle cruiser’s speed. All of this goes to show that the mistake of drastic naval defence retrenchment carried out in the last ten years is being repaired, but the rearmament has not been carried out a day too soon, and the nation’s prestige and influence for peace will not be secure until she is able to show that she is well enough equipped to defend herself against any aggressor and maintain her vital trade routes.

The steady deterioration of international relations in the past few months has given grounds for much anxiety in the minds of all seriously thinking people. Our own acting-Erime Minister (Mr Eraser) felt it incumbent on him. to tell the people just li lew days ago that “a world war was never nearer since 1914 than it was on Thursday of last week.” Mr Eraser has since added that he had no information upon which to base his opinion other than the same cable news as was available to everyone who reads the newspapers, but there are many who will agree that his fears were well founded. On that day (Wednesday European time), following the resignation of the French Government and subsequent political confusion, and the demand by the German Ambassador to Britain (Herr von llibbentrop) for a quick decision

over the Leipzig incident in Spanish waters, Germany and Italy withdrew from the Non-Inter-vention Committee’s naval patrol scheme and there arose what was termed a German “diplomatic offensive’’ against Britain. The situation was most critical, and even Germany’s assurance that the Leipzig incident was closed was not accepted without misgiving in Britain, who has been blamed by tbe German Dress for her attitude toward the Spanish civil strife. Surely if ever a nation proffered the hand of peace, and proffered it repeatedly, Britain has done so, only to have it brushed aside. Much that has happened in the past two years might have taken a different course had Britain been strong euougli to speak with authority in defence of the ideals for which she stands. There is a lesson for New Zealand, too, in the measures being adopted by the Mother Country. Though the Imperial Conference may have shown that the Dominions have varying ideas on economic policies, they are agreed on the one common ideal of Empire preservation, and that can come only by adequate defence measures. New Zealand is one of the most vulnerable of the British possessions; all her trade outlets depend upon the safety of the Empire trade routes. Adequate defence,is not a matter of party politics, and in the coming session of Parliament it is a subject that should be given the closest attention, so that the country may take its proper _ share in maintaining the integrity of the Empire. Full preparedness is essential while other nations are minded as they are.