Need For Big Navy

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 234, 22 December 1927, Page 1

Need For Big Navy

FORCE FOR WORLD PEACE British Policy Defended By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday. lORD SYDENHAM, in a letter to “The Times,” says the huge naval programme submitted to the United States Congress must be viewed as a psychological portent and must react upon the attitude and policy of all the nations. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, advancing another reason for Britain having a large navy, points out that it is still the world’s sure shield against war.

“Our course Is clear,” he added. “We must continue to build only to meet Imperial needs, as was clearly explained at Geneva, but we may be forced to regard another conference as necessarily superfluous. America’s unexpected action must prove widely disturbing and must Impede a gradual reduction of armaments.” REPLY TO PACIFISTS A letter was sent to the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, on December 8 by Mr, Arthur Ponsonby, Labour member for Brightside, Sheffield, which was signed by 128,700 people. They said they would refuse to support or render w »r service to any Government which resorted to arms. Mr. Baldwin has now replied to the letter. He says the support of the League of Nations had been the con stant preoccupation of the Government, but the petitioners should reject that If the British Navy and Army did not exist, the Inevitable result would be the collapse of the League. No greater incitement to war sould be imagined.

SUPPORT OF LEAGUE Without the use of arms Britain c °uld not honour the 16th article of fhe Covenant of the League, which armed forces with which Powers must support the League The effectiveness of the League de fended most largely upon the knowedge of all parties that in the event °f an unprovoked attack, the mighty *efght of Britain would be thrown Into e scale against the aggressor. If we sink to the level of a flfthPower, the Dominions and olonies would be stripped from us. °mmerce would decline. Famine and Unemployment would stalk the land. PRIVILEGE and duty Finally, it is the privilege, as well 38 the duty of Englishmen, to take up *hns in defence of their homes and fueir country. A war of aggression is abomination and a horror, but a * Br °* defence is very different. Terrible and ghastly as were the errors of the last war, could we have fubonoured our pledged word? Would e w °rld be better if we had stood ’fy by while France was invaded and elgium destroyed? I have yet to

learn that the cause of peace can be served by rendering our country impotent.” Mr. Ponsonby, In a brief reply, says the signatories to the letter do not consider that a security based on force, is likely to succeed, or to force, Is likely to suceeed, or to strengthen the authority of the League.—A. and N.Z.-Times.

NAVY OF FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN MISTRESS AN EYE ON ITALY By Cable.—Prose Association.—Copyright PARIS, Wednesday. In a debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the construction of additional vessels for the French Navy. M. Victor Bremond insisted that France should be the mistress of the Mediterranean, even if she were on good terms with Italy. He said the over-population of Italy constituted a grave danger, and also that France must never risk her communication with Algeria being threatened.

It was stated that, in continuation of the French naval programme, the authorities were laying down, between July 1, 1927, and June 30, 1928, one cruiser, six destroyers, five first-class submarines a submarine minelayer and two scouts. —A. and N.Z.