Mr. Bruce declared that Britain's grave problems in re gard to Europe could only be solved if she undeviatingly and unhesitatingly followed x strong and definite policy. That policy could only succeed if the united Empire were behind i Britain might ultimately 60 obliged tto face the necessity "of leaving Europe to her fate and concentrate on the Empire fo ensure that at least the Empire should remain sane in world which appeared to have gone mad.
The Empire was as essential to Britain us Britain was to the Empire. The strength of the Dominions was too often forgo:- ten The Australian recalled their fachiovements in the war which had been largely respon the victorious outcome.
The Disarmament Farce.
For one great nation to strip itself of its powers of de and enforcement. of its will was only encouraging other Powers to increase their armaments, We were running straight towards another heavy blunder, like the unreasoning reduction of the Air Force, by the hesitancy we were showing in the establishment of the Singapore base. The 3-53 ratio xed by the Washington Conference was non-existent in the Pacific, where without the Singapore base Britain would not be able effectively to put a single en pital-shi Mr. Bruce declared emphatically that unless a base were built in the Pacific, Brit would have to abdicate her posi tion as n great naval Power in the Pacific. He pointed out that the American, Japanese and British naval authorities held the capital-ship still to be the determining factor'in naval war. 'The geaker contented that the main; tenance of world pence depended on the construction of the Singapore base. Tt would also aid materially in' the eventual duction of armaments throughout the world.
The Economic Agreement.
Dealing with the economic troubles of Britain, the Common: wealth Premier declared that ax a, result of his trent tour he thought that the people of Britain did not realize the possibilities of the Empirn He laid stress on the necessity to fir their imagina-and urged that the resolu-ins of the Ecohomie Conference should be carried' out in their rotirety on the ground of practi. cal expediency, good sense and Britain was not hound, but he was unable to he-Tieve that any Government any shade of political opinion would hesitate to. enforce them. Tf Britain didn't like tariff preferences Australia would sie nrepared to discuss any other method of establishing closer Imperial trade relations. Tt was the duty of any Government coming into power to proceed with the con. stitution of the permanent. econo-mie committer recommended by the Economic Conference and ensure that the personnel would carry the confidence of the peoplo of Britain and of the empire and suck matters should be sub. mitted to it. Tts decisions at. this critical hour, Mr. Bruce declared. might determine the whole tutu of the Empire and the of the world. (Applause.)—Rewter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.