DOMINIONS NOT TO PAY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 365, 20 February 1937, Page 5

DOMINIONS NOT TO PAY

DEFENCE PROGRAMME OWN PREPARATIONS. Desire to Revitalise League Once Again. Press Association—Copyright. London, Feb. 18. Continuing his speech in the House of Commons in support of the Government defence programme, Sir Ttioinas Inskip, Minister for the Coordination of Defence, said there was. no need to embroil the Dominions in defence discussions.

Rt. Hon. A. V. Alexander (Labour): You ask us to pay for their defence? Sir Thomas: No; .we ask this country to pay for the defence of the colonies and dependencies and those parts of the Empire on which we are depending so much for raw materials. The Dominions are conscious of the value of their association with this country and are making their own preparations at their own expense for their own defence. Insofar as the Dominions’ Governments and people have any comments on our foreign policy, let it be expressed by them, not by members of this House. Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour) said the House was witnessing the most magnificent subscription. to a world suicide pact yet publicised in any country.

Major C. R. Attlee (Labour leader) said every sentence of the White Paper contemplated war, not as a distant possibility, but as a certainty. “We are all to live frankly with gas masks in our hands,” he added. Winding up the debate, Mr. Stanley Baldwin emphasised the need to examine the causes of the failure of

the League of Nations, and to endeavour to strengthen it to meet future crises, and to bring back to the League the great Powers that had left it.

The financial resolution was carried by 329 votes to 145.

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominions’ Part Their Own

Problem.

Press Association—Copyright. Rugby, February 18

The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, was asked in the House of Commons to-day whether a statement could be made on the proposals of the Government to be laid before tho Imperial Conference respecting a greater share in the cost of Imperial defence being borne by the Dominions.

“While welcoming the opportunity afforded by the Imperial Conference for discussion of defence and other problems,” Mr. Baldwin replied, 'J would remind the House that the expenditure of the Dominions is entirely the responsibility of the Dominions.”