NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17119, 14 April 1921, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

DOMINION'S SHARE IN THE COST. REPRESENTATION AT ADMIRALTY. (By Cabla—Praw Aeaociation—Copyright.) (Australian N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 12. The naval correspondent of the "Morning Post" commends tho clear lead given by Mr Hughes in favour of the Dominions sharing the cost of the Navy, and 'says Mr Hughes implied that this would be made conditional upon the Dominions having a voice in the Higher direction of the Navy. This was only right and proper and logical. The Admiralty had already tacitly admitted this in the proposed appointments of Dominion officers to the Admiralty. This agreement, based upon tho Empire's dependence upon the Navy and the Dominions' right to share in the control, augured well for the naval part of the Imperial Conference. Although Lord Jellicoe's mission was carried out before the war's economic aftermath was thoroughly realised, his report contained elements for the standardisation .of Imperial naval defence, after _an agreement had been reached, subject-to proportionate contributions. A strategical peace distribution of the units would be essential, and in respect of this Dominion representation at tho Admiralty would prove of the greatest assistance. [ln his speech in tho Federal House of Representatives last week, Mr Hughes said the Dominions should have a voice in the Empire's foreign policy. Australia could not accept the AngloJapanese Treaty if it involved sacrifices. The Treaty would not be worth anything if the British Navy sank to the level of the fleet of a second-rate Power. Mr Hughes said the Common*wealth Parliament, at the Imperial Conference, would not be committed to a penny of expenditure over the next naval scheme, which would be brought before Parliament and rejected or accepted for Australia. There was no alternative, in the interest of Australia, to participation in a scheme of Imperial naval defence. It was important that the Japanese Treaty should be renewed in some modified form acceptable to Great Britain, America, and Japan .] SUPPI3JMENTARY ESTIMATES.. (Reuters Telegrami.) (Received April 14th, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, April 12. The Supplementary Navy Estimates provide for 25,000 officers and men. the total personnel of the Navy to 148,700, and raising the total Crown forces, including the new defence force, to over 830,000,