EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 513, 21 May 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

THE CONFERENCE. HESITATION OF CANADA., HOW LORD CREWE HADE HIS POINT. (BT TElEGluril—rUESS ASSOCIATION—COI'JIUOIIT.) (Rcc. May 20, 10.55 p.m.) | Ottawa, May 20. Correspondence (now published in Ottawa) between the Secretary for the Colonies (Lord Crewe) and the Governor-Genera) of Canada (Karl Grey) shows that Canada's acceptance of the Imperial Defence Conference was grudging, and was almost extorted by Lord I Crowe's skilful manoeuvring. i Lord Crewe transmitted an invitation by tbo British Prime -Minister, as President of the Conference, to the Canadian Prime Minister, Earl Grey replied that t)ic Canadian Ministers had insufficient inforjrr.tion to warrant their, advising as .nccosrr.ry such a formal conference in advance of the Imperial Conference of 1911. Earl Grey's dispatch added that two Canadian Ministers woujd lea'yo shortly to discuss with the Admiralty the best methods of carrying out the .resolution of Parliament (passed by the Dominion House of Commons in March), but were quite willing to defer their visit until July (the date of the proposed Empire Defence Conference) if flip Imporia] authorities preferred. . Lord Crowo replied expressing the Imperial Government's gratification at tho readiness "of the Dominion "to pnriicipfito ip, tlie Conference. - ,'■•■..'. PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS. CANADA'S DUTY. - FLEET NOT BE A PART OF IMPERIAL NAVY. ... - , (Roe. May ?l, 0,20 a.m',) • ..■'■■'-■ Ottawa, May 20, Replying to questions.asked in fhp jp,u House of .(^minons/relating to the Imperial Defence Conference, Sir Wilfrid Laurjer. Prime Minister, said he wag aivaro that the rcso|utiqn passed in Mqrcli by t])o Do? minipn House of Commons—in 'favour of .or? gani?ing a Canadian naval' Eervico in cor operation with the Imperial Navy as a. con? tribution to the. defence of the Empire—had not given satjsfaqtion tq .pertain sections qf Canadian opinion. T|ie more advanced seer tiqn faypuVcd a money contribution to the United Kingdom to strengthen the Imperial Navy. '■' ' With Jhat ho did not agree. He realised that Canada should act fairly and squarely, and as far as possible provide fpr her-own defence. ■After the resolution had been passed, he informed,-the Imperial naval authorities that. hfi;thq\)ght.it would not be wiso for tho Canadian Navy to bo a part of tho Imperial 1 Navy,' but that any action taken should be in'accordance with tj\o Admiralty's views.;.; While this correspondence was in progress the invitation to the subsidiary Cpflferenco' in, July, on Imperil '.dej fence was rpcoivpd.. ' r Sir .Wilfritj Lauripv admitted., in reply tq a question, that he acquiesced in tho last dispatch; sent by tho;,Dominion_..Gqvornment, (summarised in tho foregoing message), '.'. Tf'RMS Of THiTfSOtUTIQN.' The resolution, qfi th.o. .Pomiujon House of Cpmrflqns referred to ifl tho abqve cable messages was unanimously passed,in,Marph a'ft'er the Prime' Minister and the teaqcr -of, the Op-, position' had conferred. : The resolution reads: .This Houso fully redognises (he'(Jut; Qf the peoplo. of Canada as they increase in numbers aad to. assume. in larger, measure the ■'Vwjqnsipih.ti.es. Rf'.natiensl defence.; ','. ;.• iXlxo IJauso is of op\nipn that ■ under. present c6iistitu.tio.nal retaUpns between the Country and' the s.elt'-gp.yerning dominions. th> , payment .of'regular and periodical pantriimtions to'the Imperial 1 Treasury for ha,val and military purposes would not,' so far as, Canada is opnporneu, bo, the most satisfactory solution of the question of defence. :" '

; ri\s> Rqpsa Y(i\i cordially approve, any necessity- expenditure designed t.q prqniqto the speedy organisation of a, Canadian naval service in cbSperatipn ,v.'itft, ftpd: m closftTolftiion tOj th.o. Imperial Navy along-the lines suggest fa' the' Admiralty at, the. last Imperial Conference, and iiv.fuU sympathy -with the vieyr that the naval supremacy of Great; Britain is essential to the 6.9mflty ( oi commerce, the safety;of'tho.EinEW$ ftfi? m.im<& P,f the wqrld.' ■■.■ , ■'.:.; ' Mf, mw fWressea its, firm conviction that' whenever need ames-tha CanaAan, people' will he fonnd, ready apd vriltvng to. make. o,ny' sacrl: floe reguircd to give to the Imperial a,u,thqritic3 tqe most loyal niid hearty co-operation in every, movement for- tha maintenance'of the integrity and ft o hwonr. oi 'the' Empire.' - :

THE OP 181 l ,: ' ' The holding of an Imperial Conference .in 1011 will-be in accord with a'resolution passed by the.lmperial' Conference of 1907 in faYpur of. fntvr-yfarly, Conferences.;".:,'TKis"- resolution Was as fqllqws.:— ' .'.' ..-■•"' ' '■ ' That. it. \yill be, to th,o. advantage, pf tho E .WP\W„V'3 Conference, to,-bo called-tha Imperial Co.nfereu,ce, is wld every fqur.yeflrs., qf which questions of common interest inay bo discussed and considered as between "B.'U'.'a Government and, his' Governments of' tho selfgoverning Dominions, beyond th/o, seas.' The Prime Minister of tho United Kingdom will be ex officio president,'and the Prime Ministers oi 1 -fte. sflltoTOWW Dominions ex officio memWW. a? W9,%ff^npe., Th.o, Seeretary. of State 7J"?-,, c fM W\\ ¥ an ex pffici.o member pi the Conference, a,nd will tftke the' chair in the absence of the president. He will arrange for such Imperial Conferences after communication w.ith the Prime"'Ministers of the respective 'Su,oh : qtber- Ministers as the respective Governments may appoint will also: be.mehiborsi of the Conference—it being ÜBdeff.tqp.d ™k. except by special permission °A \W Conference, ewh'rtisoussion will bo conJW.WI W no.tmpi? than t.wo, representatives %W -W& MPW?iiWfnt..and that enph. .Govern-, \viU- o.nly vote;"- . .