NOT ALARMIST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1938, Page 7

NOT ALARMIST

MR MACDONALD’S SPEECH ON THE EMPIRE i ONE OF THE FINEST SURVEYS HEARD. RECEPTION IN BRITAIN. By Tclegrapn—tress Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 15. The Australian Associated Press says that criticism in England of the speech delivered yesterday by Mr Malcolm MacDonald, Dominions Secretary, in which he referred to certain forces in the Empire making for possible disunity, is based on the premise that any statement capable of Ihe interpretation that Empire unity is threatened is undesirable while Britain’s Imperial strength is jealously regarded by foreign Powers. There- were cheers in -the House of Commons when Mr MacDonald replied to an interjection, saying- "I advise critics to read the latter part of the speech in addition to the former.” Those who heard the speech, far from regarding it as alarmist and indiscreet, declare that it was one of the finest surveys of Imperial politics that had been heard.

In his speech, Mr MacDonald said ;hat there were certain disintegrating forces at work wilhin die Empire today. There was no doubt that some of the Dominions had been bitten rather badly by nationalism. They were anxious to demonstraie that they had attained their majority and that they had arrived at man’s estate. There were many counter forces, however, which were making for ! he continued association of Britain and the Dominions. Referring to material factors that worked toward continued association, Mr MacDonald said that the Dominions had got to recognise and recognise for some time to come, that their main strength lay in their association with Britain and that their security depended mainly on the power of the British Navy to defend their shores against aggression.

MR SAVAGE’S COMMENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, This Day.

Commenting on Mr MacDonald's speech, the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, said that the most substantial foundation he knew of for Imperial unity would be the investment of British capital within the British Commonwealth of Nations. That was the only lasting foundation for the principles outlined by Mr MacDcnald. "I do not know of any disintegrating forces within the British Commonwealth, but I was always lea to believe that to be within the British Commonwealth of Nations was to enjoy the right of .self-government,” Mr Savage added, referring to the suggestion of Mr MacDonald regarding tne force of nationalism in some Dominions.

“I think that Britain will find when it comes to a pinch that there will be no one missing so far as the Dominions are concerned.”

BRILLIANT EXPOSITION.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN ANSWERS LABOUR CRITICS. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 15. Replying to Labour Party questions in the House of Commons, whether Mr Malcolm MacDonald’s speech on Tuesday represented the Government’s views, Mr Chamberlain (Prime Minister) said it was a brilliant and statesmanlike exposition which was only partially reported and the Government fully shared Mr MacDonald’s faith that the British Commonwealth of Nations would co-operatively survive whatever crisis arose.