THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 4

THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

NEED, BUT XO OPPORTUNITY.

SOUTH AFRICANS CONTENT.

_n_OJI OCR OWN* COKIIESPONDENT.. -. LONDON, April 24. The outspoken utterances of the Hon. J James Allen, which havo been cabled to London from time to time, corroborated by the statement of Mr Millen, the Australian Minister of Defence, have done much to lead the British public to understand that there really is ~ considered and different outlook on naval matters in Australasia, and that Australasia feels it has not been quite fairly dealt with. This has caused a certain amount of uneasiness, and has fully explained the oversea desire for another Naval Conference. In the outburst about Ulster the White Paper on tho subject has not received much attention. The White Paper opens with Mr Harcourt's despatch of December, 1912, in which the Dominions were invited to scud re resentativos to the Commit too of Imperial Defence. The despatch suggested "a moro continuous representation of Dominion Minister;?, if they wish it. ! upon the .Committee of Imperial De-1 fence ; we should bo clad if a member or members of those Cabinet. could be annually in Loudon. The door of fellowship and friendship is always open to them, and we require no formalities of an Imperii! 1 Conference for tho continuity of Imperial confidence." Tho replies of the Dominions to this invitation are instructive. Australia's reply, a week or so later, was to the effect that it was impracticable for any Commonwealth Ministers to visit Ensland during 1913, but "in TJew of the great importance of the Dominions adopting a common policy, and having a complete understanding on the question of co-operation for naval defence, it is suggested that a subsidiary conference should be convened in Australia, in either January or February. 1913. If this is not practicable. Ministers would be prepared" to attend a conference in New Zealand. South Africa, or Vancouver, Canada. '' This so short notice took Mr H?fcourt't. broath away. Ho wished for confirmation of tbe date, and then replied (January 10th, 1913): "Please iuform your Ministers, owing to situation of public affairs hero, wo find it quite impossible to hold general naval defence conference at date named and places suggested. Other Dominions could not attend at short notice, and it is doubtful whether they would desire a jrenerul conference at present. Tho De-

fence Minister of New Zealand Ls now on his way to England, aud tho Defence

Minister of South Africa comes here in May for individual consultation. After your general election wo shall welcome any Minister of yours who could visit England for discussion. —Harcourt." 'this quashed tho proposal for tho time, but by August a new Minister was in office iv Australia, and the GovernorGeneral then cabled to the Colonial Office about the position of the 1000 agreement: "Government of Commonwealth of Australia anxious to know exactly intentions of hio Majesty's Government in this respect. If any new circumstances havo arisen which it is considered should necessitate an alteration iv this agreement to provide units, my Ministers would bo glad to be informed, and, if thought necessary, will arrange for representation at a conference, should his Majesty's Government consider such a course necessary." Tho Colonial Office then, on October 17th, telegraphed the explanatory memorandum of the Admiralty, and added: "If, after consideration of the statement ol the Admiralty, your Ministers consider it desirable to confer, as

tho Governments of other Dominions have done, with his Majesty's Government, his Majesty's Government will be glad to welcome, at any date convenient to them n_xt year, a visit of representatives of your Government." On Maicii 13tu. 19_4. Mr Harcourt cabled to Australia:—-"His Majesty's Government will gladly confer with representatives of Australia regarding naval defence, if so de-ired. Should bo glad to know when it is desired that conference should bo held, and whether discussion should be limited to subjects referred to in your telegram 16th August last. Am communicating with New Zealand to ask whether that .Government would desire to participate in conference."

And to New Zealand: —"As it is understood that Government of Commonwealth desire conference on naval position in Pacific, I havo informed Govornor-General that his Majesty's Government will be glad to confer with Australian representatives if dosi.ed, and have asked when it is wished-that conference should take place, and whether scope of conference should be liiiiited to question of arrangement arrived at at Defence Conference in August, 1.09. Would your Government wish to parti.inato in conference?"

Austra'ia rer'icd tbat owing to the early meeting of Pailia.nent, "it is now impossible for any Commonwealth Minister to visit London during this year, although my Ministers still hold tho opinion that a conference is desirable. My Ministers, while not ignoring the advantages of tbe limi.ed conference his Majesty's Government .ngcrest, yot urge greatly the desirability of a full ooyiference'iat "which shall be represented all the self-governing Dominiois." Consequently, the confo*enco. Mr Harcourt sftvs, "must stand over for tho present."

New Zenland meanwhile bad rignified Of.-oh 17+ 1 *) her desire to pa*-tHrate. "New Zealand desires to part:"i~ate in Naval Confereice, but unWs time and place convenient representation cannot be adequate. Will "'""•in further, as at pres D nt nrnnv of tbe Minister*, are fluent f-om W*-l'in«rt«.n. and 't wilt not be rowMp to hold Cabinet Council for two weeks." NEW ZEALAND AND THE COM-WITTEE. New Zealand, as wo know, replied on June lUtn, iyi3, alter -Vir Auen returnod to tie Dominion from a visit, during wt_icn he took part in ti_o proceedings of the Committee. Lord Liverpool's despatch says:—"_y_y Government do not consider it advisable at present for a permanent appointment to be made, but ratner tiiat, when at any time accredited Ministers of the Government of tho Dominion are in England, they may be invited to attend tlio deliberations of the Committee of Imperial Defence in a like manner as has been tho privilege of the New Zealand MinHier_ of Defence, Colonel tho Honourable James j Allen, during his recent visit." South Africa's attitude." stated in a despatch of January, 1913, is one of complete contentment. General Botha says:—"Ministers desire to express their appreciation of the readineas evinced by his Majesty's Government to make provision, through the machinery of the Imperial Defence Committee, for more frequent opportunities of consultations between tho Imperial and Dominion Government-. .Ministers have noted with pleasure that no new departure in constitutional practice is intended, but that the proposal, of his Majesty's Government are simply a further expression of that spirit of mutual consultation and he.rful co-oreration which in the past lias so happily animated the British Government in its relations to the Governments of t>e selfgoverning Dominion-. The existing

machinery of consultation and suggestion ha* worked so suiooui... may ..*«aisters would be loth to setvany new departure inaugurated which might in the end prove less satisfactory in practice. In particular, they doubt whether tho idea of a Minister of tho Union residing in London for the purpose of constantly representing tfie Union Government on the Imperial Defence Committee is ->ntcticable. As long as tho control of foreign policy remain®, as under present conditions it must necessarily remain, solely with the Imporial Government, and tho Imperial Government continue to consult* the Do-ir-itrons on all questions of foreign policy whi"h affect individually. Ministers do not think it is necessary to have a Union Minister ill constant attendance at the In.per.al Defence Comn.itteo." Mll ALT.K.VS SPEECH. -. Captain Faber asked ttio premier if his attention had been called to Mr Aliens statement that it was a serious questiou whether New /.oaland ehouM ooi.tinue to pay a certain sum yearly if she had no voice in Imperial defence, and if he proposed to take any action in tho matter.

Mr Asquith: I havo seen what has appeared in the Prose, but no official communication has, as far as I am aware, been received. The Bubject is not suitable for discussion by question and answer.

Sir C. Kinloch Cooke: Does the n<_;ht hon. gentleman mean that thero bss been no officinf communication with regard to this matter?

Mr Asquith: I have said so. Sir C. Kinloch Cooke: it is not true, (Laughter.) *

JAPAN DEMORALISED

'•Truth" saj-s: "British officers who have been on tue China station are not at ail surprised at tho recent revelations of corruption and jobbery in tno Japanese Navy. They state that the warships built in the Japanese Government yards are both scamped and skimped. New construction is almost at a standstill.' It Ls aesirablo -i.at people in this country as well as m Australia and New Zeaiaud bhould understand that a great change has come oyer Japanese sea-power since the Ilussian >.ar. Japan is now only able to keep nine armoured ships in full commission out of twenty-nine. Her First Squadron, consists of tho Kongo (flagship). Settsu, Tsukuba, Satsuma, Iwami, and Suo, and it is probibly the m:st I.eteiogoneous -first line' wT.ich any .sea power ever mustered. Tho speed ranges from IS knots to ..8 knots, and the armament from 10 inclT 1-f-inch guns."