EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1920, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

FUTURE SCHEME INDEFINITE. RAtOfi 6P DEFENCE COMMITTEE. B» Telegraph.—Press Aim.—Copyright. Received May 6, 8.5 p.m. London, May 5. Id the House of Lords, Lord Haldane asked the Government's policy as regards the Committee of Imperial Defence, and the Committee's relation to the war staffs of the army, navy, and air force. He paid a tribute to the Committee is providing the most efficient way of bringing the Dominions into consultation. The Committee provided a roof under which the Overseas Ministers could come without the slightest sense that they were sacrificing their independence- He recommended the retention of the Committee as an ideal organisation for affording intercourse and co-operation between the armv and navy, and as according more with the constitution of the EmpireLord Curzon, replying, said the Committee ras an advisory one and had no executive authority. It thoroughly justified itself both before and diring the war. He denied the war found us unprepared. Our war book was not only superior to anything existing in »ny other country, hut the actual iegrce to which we were prepared for all enraing developments exceeded that of tht ablest and most scientific foes. The Defence Committee was not extinct, but the scheme of future Imperial defence must be largely suspended until all the Treaties were drawn up. The Defence Committee')) work would be co-ordinated with the British branch of the League »f Nations. It would be unwise to indicate too definitely the Imperial defsnee policy until after the weighty deilsiona at the forthcoming Imperial Conference.—lmperial Service.