EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

THE CONFERENCE. .SPEECH BY LORD CREWE. ORGANISATION WITH ELASTICITY. (BY TKtEOairil — rIIESS ASSOCIATION—CpPTBIQnT.) (Rec. May 7, 10.55 p.m.) London, May 7. Speaking 'at the Liberal Colonial Club, the Secretary for the Colonies, tho Earl of Crewe,-.referred-to the Imperial Conference on Empire defence proposed to Ix 3 held in July. Provisional Conclusions. . Lord Crewe said ho was not prepared to say that the time was absolutely ripe for a" full and complete discussion of the whole question of Imperial defence. It could hardly bo oxpected that South Africa would speak,with certainty on the subject untilthe Union, was accomplished. On the other hand, there had been,so many incidents of importance, such as the fine, offers of. New Zealand aßd Australia,- and the not less hearty movements towards tlie. improvement of Imperial defenco in Canada, which entirely justified their endeavouring to arrivo at some at any rate provisional conclusions after talking the matter over in a friendly way.. His view was that the sooner they could approach towards a common o> ganisation for defence purposes, the better it would be for the Empire. . Respect for Looal Control. Such things as an Imperial General Staff and' a certain assimilation—he would not say identity—of organisation for the purposes of defenco between , the systems of the Motherland and of the Dominions would be • all'steps in the right direction; but local elasticity , was not - less necessary. Lord Crewe added: "Wo oould not do anything moro unwiso than to attempt to impose upon tho great self-governing colonies any scheme which .would' bo unpalatable to them, in the sense that, each Dominion must work out its own defence in its own way. I would be glad to know that tho Government's action has the approval of both sides in politics, because this is certainly a matter wherein we should desire the oountry to act as one." ■ . . . ■ Lord Crewe's statement was received by his . audience with cheers. The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal), referring' to the Conference, declares that the idea of federation in defenco agrees with provailing political conditions, and appeals to sentiments oommon throughout the Empire. CANADIAN. REPRESENTATIVES. : . Ottawa, May 6. Tho Canadian Government has nominated Sir F. W. Borden, Minister for Militia, and tho Hon. L. P.' Brodcur, Ministor for Marine, to-represent the Dominion at the conference to be held in London in . Jiily, to consider .the question of the defence of tho Empiro. . ' •