IF WAR COMES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20508, 26 May 1938, Page 9

IF WAR COMES

CANADA’S ISOLATION PRIME MINISTER'S CONTENTIONS NO COMMITMENTS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 26, 12.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, May 25 During a six-hour debate on Foreign Affairs in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, defining the Canadian policy, declared that Canada was unlikely to engage in war on its own account or be attacked, and cannot be drawn into war by the League and will not join the Empire in war except by Parliament’s decision. Mr R. B. Bennett (Leader of the Opposition), contended that Canada as a member of the British Commonwealth would automatically be at war if the Empire were attacked. The only alternative w r as separation from the Empire, which would not be the choice of Canadians. Mr J. S. Woodsworth (Leader of the Commonwealth Federation), stated that Canada should act to relieve herself from the obligation to fight any war but a war in defence of her own shores. If war comes wealth should also be conscripted. The Prim© Minister declared that Canada has no commitments, and should not have any. No advice had been offered to London, whose decisions were not binding to Canada despite assertions to contrary. All three leaders denounced Japanese aggression and Mr Bennett declared that Hitler agents were working among Canadian minority groups, stressing their alleged rights and cited Czechoslovakia where a German minority demands that their homeland take military action 1o compell the Czechs to give them what they want. No language was too strong to describe the difficulty of the European situation.