PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20738, 23 February 1939, Page 9

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

DAYS OF GREAT ANXIETY MAINTENANCE OF RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES J MR CHAMBERLAIN EMPHASISES NEED OF ARMAMENTS (Official Wireless) (Received Feb. 23, noon) RUGBY, Feb. 22 The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, spoke at Blackburn to-night, when a considerable part of bis speech w as devoted to domestic ail airs, including unemployment and the position of the cotton industry, but foreign affairs and defence also were dealt with. “In these days of anxiety in international affairs, when huge armaments are being piled up on every hand,” said Mr Chamberlain, “we cannot avoid certain anxiety lest some incident, perhaps trifling in itself, should set in motion machinery that would bring them into operation. We know that if that dreaded event should come to pass there is none of us or of those who are dearest to us who could count on escaping the consequences.

“In such conditions it seems to me that only those reckless, irresponsible or ignorant can desire that the Government of the day should follow any other policy than the one which we laid down for ourselves—a policy of peace through strength, which will neglect no opportunity of breaking down suspicions and antagonisms and at the same time build up steadily and resolutely, with the help of our friends within and without the Empire, a strength so formidable as to maintain our rights and liberties against any who might be rash enough to attack them.”

Growth of Expenditure

The Prime Minister cited figures of the growth ol‘ defence expenditure from about £114,000,000 annually in the first five years of the National Government to £580,000,000 in the coming 'financial year, as evidence of the effective progress of re-armament.

Ships, guns, aeroplanes and munitions are now pouring out of the yards and factories In a stream, which is constantly Increasing in volume, and the position to-day, even as compared with a few months ago, has been enormously strengthened.

He also thought that these huge figures served to bring home the immensity of the British financial resources which enable the country not only to find such colossal sum but also to contemplate their expenditure without any appreciable disturbance in the confidence which was the basis of its financial credit.

“And when we reflect,” said Mr Chamberlain, “that what w r e are now considering is the effort of this country alone, without taking any account of the contribution that could be made if the need arose by the great Dominions or by our allies and friends outside the British Empire we may well feel, in the words of our own Shakespeare- ‘Come the three corners of the world in arms and we shall shock them.’ Desire for Peace “I do not speak these words in any boastful, still less in any aggrsesivc. spirit. Our armaments threaten no one, nor have we any thought but of friendliness to any people in the world. My own most earnest desire in life is to see th» establishment of peace and confidence that can he preserved, and I believe that as soon as a substantial measure of that confidence can be achieved it will be possible to set about the task of disarmament by general agreement.

“No country embarks upon this ruinous form of expenditure for the fun of the thing. .They do it because they are afraid of what may happen to them If they disarm. Remove that fear and disarmament will follow automatically.” Problem of Unemployment In connection with unemployment, Mr Chamberlain said anxiety " about the international situation was playing a large part among the causes of the higher level it had reached. “I have often remarked,” he said, “that even a slight improvement in trade generally does more to reduce unemployment than all the artificial remedies any one ever thought of, and it is a most significant fact that the easing of the international tension which made itself felt after Herr Hitler's speech produced an instantaneous improvement in the trade reports which come to the Government from all parts of the country. That is a circumstance which, coupled with the prospect of a speedy termination of the Spanish war and various other indications, encourages me to hope that the forces making for an upward turn in the trend of trade may be allowed this year to have an opportunity of developing their effect unhampered by political anxieties. “If T am right we shall reap the reward of our foreign policy not only in a more stable peace of mind, but, (also in an increase in employment “There exists a vast, potential demand for goods which is being held back by uneasiness about international affairs, and will make itself felt as confidence is restored. r therefore welcome most heartily the recent, agreement between the coal industries of Germany and Britain. That is to be followed by negotiations between representatives of Gorman and British industries in general. Anglo-German Co-operation “Tt may well be that ftiis approach by way of trade in which we have common interests may turn out. to be the best and quickest wav of bringing about a better understanding between our two countries. I agree with the !words spoken by Herr Hitler last month when he said that co-operation j between our peoples in full confidence J with one another would be fortunate ■ for the whole world. Confidence is not born in a day. and when once if has hern disturbed ft takes time to restore it. but a little goodwill on both sides has a wonderfully healing effect, and for my part I look forward to the future with high hopes that It will prove happier than the past.”

SUPPLY OF WAR MATERIALS

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATION WITH FRANCE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 22 During the debate on defence in the House of Commons Mr Alfred Edwards (Labour—Middlesborough East) complained that Empire countries were supplying raw materials to possible hostile nations. He instances the arrival of 400 tons of Canadian copper at German ports two days before the Czech crisis.

Replying to a question as to how he proposed to stop the Dominions from supplying raw materials, Mr Chamberlain said be assumed that the Dominions were as loyal to the Empire as Britain. He was prepared to have the Dominions Secretary, Sir Thomas Inskip, discuss the matter with the Dominions.

Mr W. S. Morrison. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in winding up

the debate for the Government, said the defence measures did not connote that the Government subscribe to the inevitability of war. He assured Mr Churchill that the talks between the French and British General Staffs were being continued. Naturally they were covering the respective roles each country could play in the first stages of a conflict. All Britain's Resources If France were attacked. Mr Morrison added, the Government was- fully agreed that Britain could not proceed on the principle of limited liability. All her resources would have to be thrown in. The only question was how they could most effectively be used.

Mr Morrison said he was convinced that the Government’s determination to use the full resources of the people for peace was supported, not only by the British people, but by millions throughout the world.

The Labour Party’s amendment was defeated by 310 votes to 127.

ROYAL AIR FORCE

GREAT PROGRESS MADE INCREASE IN RECRUITING RE-EQUIPMENT IN INDIA (Official Wireless) (Received Feb. 23. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 22 The Supplementary air estimate i covers a net .•xpendilurc of £7.990,100 and provides for an increase of 6000 in the personnel of the Royal Air Force. The Air Council states that a satisfactory response to the call for recruits” has resulted in the personne, authorised being almost reached b> the present date. In order F. period the present level of recruiting to hr maintained it is desired that the maxii mum may he increased to I'O.OOO. It is also stated that since the supplementary estimate of July last greater progress than was then expected rias been made in the deliveries

strucUon of stations and factories, and ihe extension of the balloon barrage An appropriation of £300,000 is for -upplying part of the aircraft required for the re-equipment of the Royal Air

FEAR OF BOMB OUTRAGE

PRECAUTIONS AT THE MEETING

CIIEERS FOR MR CHAMBERLAIN

United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright' (Received Feb. 23. 1 p.m.) ; LONDON, Feb. 22 In view of a possible bomb outirage admission was strictly by ticket. | The police asked some women to open | their handbags at the barriers, and kept those who were not admitted j twenty yards from the hall.

Eight thousand people heard the speech. They cheered the entry of Mr Chamberlain for several minutes and sang “He's a Jolly Good Fellow.”

DEFENCE OF GIBRALTAR

IN STATE OF PREPAREDNESS * MEETING ATTACK FROM AIR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 21 The Secretary of State for War, Mr Hore-Belisha, was asked in the House of Commons if he was aware that Gibraltar was totally unprepared to resist attack at the time of the crisis last September, and whether steps had been taken to put the military defences in a state of preparedness against air and land and bombardment.

Sir Victor Warrender, replying for the Minister, said that, regarding coast and landward defence. Gibraltar was adequately prepared last September. The anti-aircraft defences had been relatively weak, but were in process of being considerably in-

MORE FORTIFICATIONS

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PLANS GARRISON FOR PORT MORESBY | ; j ■. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright 1 (Received E'eb. 23. 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 23 j The Federal Government intends to make an early start on the fortifications of Port Moresby and Papua, and j a small military force lias already been : selected in Sydney to form the nucleus of the garrison. It is expected that a contingent numbering about 35 men will leav.' for Port Moresby soon and the garrison will be increased when the forti-.tiraji.-'ns -oie completed. ...