POLICY IN WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1939, Page 5

POLICY IN WAR

POSITION OF BRITISH DOMINIONS NEW RESPONSIBILITIES ASSUMED. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrighl. LONDON. March 9. Following Mr Hore-Belisha’s speech in the House of Commons on British strategy, Mr Saunders (Lab.) asked what arrangements had been made with the Dominions for assistance in time of war. Major Rayner replied that the Dominions might be expected to concentrate first on their own needs, for all of them had| their danger zones. It was for them to decide whether to join in an Imperial war. Dominion opinion did not favour sending a citizen army again to fight on a European battlefield. ' Major Rayner added: “We cannot again depend on the Dominions to form a general reserve for a European front. We ought to consider holding an Imperial Conference to decide how the defensive policy of the Dominions can be fitted into a co-operative whole. We feel that the Dominions, having obtained sovereignty, should assume responsibility for it. “It is not fair to us or good business for them to claim freedom to decide whether to fight in a possible war and simultaneously rely on British arms for their defence.” WITHOUT DELAY EXPECTATION OF EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT. BRITAIN AND PACIFIC DOMINIONS TO CONFER. LONDON, March 9. An early announcement may be expected concerning the Imperial Pacific conference to which the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zeaiand are to be parties for discussion on defence, air communications, trade and economics. It is believed that the talks will begin without delay between representatives of the three countries who will already be in Australia when the announcement is made. A message from Sydney yesterday quoted the “Sydney Morning Herald” as saying that the proposals for the conference will undoubtedly be accepted by Australia. The “Daily Telegraph” said that the Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, would attend the conference. A message ifrom Canberra published yesterday stated that details of the conference were to have been announced simultaneously by Mr Savage, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Mr Lyons, but, following a,radiotelephone talk with Mr Savage, Mr Lyons said that Mr Savage was not yet ready to make a statement. Mr Lyons therefore refused to make one. Air Marshal Longmore, member of the British Air Mission at present in Australia, stated that he had not received official advice of the proposed conference, but before he left London for Australia there was a suggestion that such a conference might be held and that he might be required to attend it. STATEMENT BY MR LYONS. NO MINISTER TO BE SENT TO. NEW ZEALAND. CANBERRA, March 9. The Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, stated today that no Minister from Australia would attend the defence conference in New Zealand. MR SAVAGE’S DENIAL “NOT HOLDING ANYTHING UP.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The report that a defence conference was to be held between New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain was confirmed yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage. He indicated that the conference was called at New Zealand’s instigation. “I see by the cable that I am charged with holding things up,” he said. “As a matter of fact New Zealand has been pressing for this conference for some time, to discuss defence matters, and that has been agreed to. “I am not holding anything up. I am simply asking that the three countries should make a joint statement at a time to be agreed upon between them.”