A WARNING

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19892, 22 May 1936, Page 8

A WARNING

4.30 O’CLOCK EDITION.

BRITAIN UNPREPARED. ALL EUROPE ARMING. EVERYTHING 15 WORSE.” United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received May 22, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. Mr Winston Churchill, following Sir Thomas Insklp In the House of Commons, argued that the Government’s programme was Inadequate, and could not be carried out punctually. All Europe was arming.

“ Show me a single quarter of the world where there is an improvement. Shcmv me a single reassuring fact. Everything is worse from the viewpoint of peace and safety compared with this time last year,” said Mr Churchill, “yet the Government’s programme is already heavily in arrears. We shall have to pass through a long valley of unprotectedness, wherein events In Europe might reach a climax.”

Mr Churchill again urged the formation of a Ministry of Munitions. Germany’s whole industry had been organised for war. and Sir Thomas Tnskip's speech conveyed no idea of the smoothness with which Germany could pour out an almost limitless flow of the most horrible weapons for human destruction ever placed in the hands of man.

Lieutenant-Commander R. T. Fletcher urged the Government, not to wait until 1937 for the Imperial Conference. The Dominion Prime Ministers should be summoned immediately to settle the future of the foreign policy of the Commonwealth, and defence plans to fulfil that policy. The world would not be slow to appreciate til that it implied.

EGYPT AND PALESTINE. PROTECTION OF THE CANAL. PRIME MINISTER QUESTIONED. (Official Wireless.) (Received May 22, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY. May 21. The Prime Minister was asked in the House of Commons at question time m \p'w of the declaration "i the Italian Government annexing the whole of Abyssinia and the consequent menace to the British position in Africa and the Near East, the Government would make it clear, in unmistakable terms, that in no circumstances would interference with existing regimes in Egypt, and Palestine he permitted and whether, in view of the changed conditions caused by the development in the air. the question of strengthening Britain's defences in the Suez Canal area rtould be considered in consultation with the Egyptian Government?

Mr Baldwin replied that it would be realised that Egypt and Palestine were in separate categories.

So far as Egypt was concerned. His Majesty’s Government had notified the foreign powers in March, 1922, that It had decided to terminate the protectorate and recognised that country as a sovereign and independent State. In so notifying the Powers, His Majesty’s Government had made it clear in unmistakable terms, that it would regard as an unfriendly act any attempt at interference in the affairs of Egypt by any Power and consider any aggression against the territory of Egypt as an act to be repelled by all means at their command.

The Prime Minister added: “A further statement appears to be unnecessary.'*

Suez Canal Area.

Continuing, he said that as regards the Suez Canal area preliminary conversations on a treaty of alliance between the l nited Kingdom and Egypt and questions concerning the protection of the canal were being taken into account.

His Majesty's Government was responsible for the administration and protection of Palestine In accordance wtlh the terms of the mandate and Intended to discharge Us responsibilities to the full.