"STRIKING POWER."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 573, 30 July 1909, Page 7

"STRIKING POWER."

EMPIRE CONFERENCE. MR. HALDANE ON A LONC-RANCE ARMY PROCEEDINGS OPENED. ' (Dy Tolceraph.-PfCßs Assoclatlon.-Oopyrlght.l . '. London,' July 28,' Mr. Asquith, at tho inaugural meeting of tho Imperial Dcfonco Conference, outlined the Government's proposals in regard to defence. Tho sittings of tho Conforonco will lie strictly private , General Botha, Promior of tho Transvaal, is unwell, and-mll bo unable to attond, tho early sitting of the Conference., ' «

EXPERT ADVIPE. / ' ' (Rco. July 29, 9.30 p.m.) London July 29. After Mr. Asquith's opening speech at tho Defonco Conference, the delegates briefly replied in turn, expressing thanks for the cordiality of their reception. : Tho coming debates concerning co-ordina-tion of naval and military plane will bo largely in tho hands of experts,

DELECATEB BANQUETED. A GREAT MISSION. V (Rec. July 29, 11.16 p.m.) .','."_'. m ■" London, July 29. The delegates to the Defence Conference •were entertained at an; enthusiastic inaugural banquet at the Guildhall by:the British Empire Club. The Duke of Devonshire presided. There wore 4CO guests, including Lords Crewe, Northcotc, Strathcona, Kintore, Curzon, Brassey, Onslow, and Lamington. Admiral Lord Chas. Beresford, the Premier of Natal (Mr. P. R, Moor), the Premier of Cape Colony (Mr, J. X. Mernman), General Smuts (Colonial Secretary of the Transvaal),-Mr'. Jan Hofmeyr (of the Cape Afrikander Bond), and,a number of representative-Australians.

Command of thei Seas'' First. 'Mr. Haldano, Secretary for AVar, in proposing the toast of "Tho Defence Conference, \ mentioned that the Prime Minister had give nstringent injunctions that all members of the Conference should "keep, strict' silence, but he was , able to. say. that' the working out of the problems of the Empire's defence must be founded on tho highest-stra-tegy, and must be done' by means of consultation between tho Empire's sailors, soldiers, and,statesmen. Only one maxim can be: laid down on. the question of dcfonce,' ; namely: 'the British Empire one and indivisible.'! On that; maxim the attention ■of the''Conference would be concentrated. They recognised that tho command of tho seas must' come' in the first place. Secondly, they.'must have an army of: long range suited:.to deal with problom at long range. Ho gave the. toast with full hope in the results ofiho Conference. .Responding, Sir Joseph Ward said they regarded the Conference as ono of the greatest moment to all portions of the Empire. The delegates entered it with open> minds for. the purpose in the first instance of': assisting in the improving of the Empire's naval defence.-. He emphasised the desire of tho overseas dominions to'"tako a '■. share in tho defence burden. He hoped that,• some svstcm would be adopted which would make, for the betterment of : the land of which they were all so proud, :,,.,. V) v

Australian icroais.:, : v : _■ Colonel Foxton (Commonwealth delegate) declared that the.delegates were in England to see tqwhat extent it is possible to strengthen tho striking power of the Empire. Should necessity arise, Australia: was prepared to contribute men and money, and ,te draw on her resources to tho very,last, in order'to tako a duo share in maintaining the. Empire s integrity and i ion v the oceans of the world. .Ho comparod'fiho Empire witlr a bundle of sticks-in: order .to secure tho strength ; of;, combination, they \ must be.bomid inte. a'; straight; stick... Jbe great .yaluejof -tho Conference would 'be for weldthe. various; systems: 0f,..th0 , different parts of tliO i Empire; so' 'that the,.: whole strength could, be-wielded as one bundle of sticks. .Australia had done what she could to inaugurate, maintain, and develop a force on land sufficient to ropel any attack. She had j also done Something to contribute towards tho cost .'of the British Fleotj'but ato desired to bo able to provide somethiim in tho shapo of an Australian Navy—perhaps small at the sliould become an integral .portion of naval armament of. the Empire*: Australia in twentyfive years would havo something to offer for defence which would bo worth consideration, lhe idea of separation,' from the Motherland lolJowmg upon the.overseas dominions establishing their own navios was" absolutely unthinkable. Australia was heart, and ■'■' soul with the Empire through thick and thin ■ _Mr. Brodeur, (Canada) and Geperal Smuts (Transvaal) also replied.: •, , FETTERS NOTWANTED;- - (Rec. July 9,30 p.m.) . : -.."' : ; ™ 'London, July 29 Tho "Fall Mall Gazette'' says that the Defenco Conference; is fraught with important consequences to , futuro ; intor-Imperial relations. The Conference has been quietly and:unobtrusively organised, its members are' few, but tho issues arc momentous beyond anything submitted to • previous' gatherings, lhey embrace not only the question of defenco of the dominions;, but. may be tho maintenance of the tie finding the dependent States to the Motherland.,;' „ Unless the subject is handled: firmly, de- , heately, and sympathetically. by the Home Government, there is, a danger that the tie may fail to meet;the strain of a young, vigorous, and independent • spirit seeking to work out the salvation of,its native land unfettered by the shackles .of an uiisympar thetio, bond of cehtralisedi government. It must not bo sought to impose restrictions upon looal naval and military organisation. There should be uniformity of training, but no dominating control from the centre. : The toudhstone of success, the "Gazette" thinks, will probably be found in tho principle of interohango. ...■::• ■...;.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SPEECH. THE DEFENCE QUESTION. Tie following cablegram, was received yesterday by Mr. F. ;■■ Andrewo,. Secretary to the Cabinet:— A largely attended banquet was given by tho British Empiro Club '. on Wednesday night. Sir Joseph Ward was given the seat of honour on the right of the ohairman, the Duke of Devonshire. Mr. Haldane, Minister for War, proposed ,the toast of "The Imperial Dofonco Conference." • . :■ Sir Joseph Ward was tho first of tho delegates to speak in responso to the toast. He -was enthusiastically; cheered on- rising, Ho said that, regarding' Imperial dofonco they would surely agree with him that he could fittingly confine himself'in his remarks to the colonial aspect of tho matter. As a result of recent events tho, people .. country were, slowly but. surely awakening to the fact that tho oversea dominions'were no longer tho useless encumbrances they wore onco supposed to be., Time was-when they wero helpless, but that time was past, and tho day'was now dawning when it would be seeii that thoy wero roady and willing to assist in: their own and thereby in tho common dofonco of tho Empire

Tho Futuro. : "A prudo.it prophet," said- Sir Joseph, "never prophesios until after tho event. I am neither a propliot nor the son of n prophot, but peering into tho futuro by tlio light of tho past, I think it is not hard to forecast what may bo effected, 1 if wiso and prudent counsels provnil, in the relations between tho different portions of tho Empire. "A hundred yonrs is a.short time in tho lifo of a nation. It is more than a hundred years since Trafalgar was fought, and in the tmso of many of us our fathers remember, it. tt is nearly sixty years siiico the Crimnan war, and many Crimean veterans' aro nlivo to-day. I ask you to consider, then, what is possible a hundred years henco in tlio dovoWmunt of tlio Eujpke.' .-. laiing

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, their total population to-day probably docs not much exceed twolvo or thirteen millions. In the ordinary course of events' it will be ovor a hundred millions a contury hence; I ask you to consider tho bffectj, not only on the strength of tho Empire itself, but on the peace of the world, if these communities aro then integral portions of the Empire, thinking and acting with the United Kingdom in tho spirit they manifest, to-day. "Not only will tho Empire itself'bo impregnable against attabk; but with;tho certain co-operation of at least one other great nation, the peace of tho world will bo kept, and tin international disturbance jn Europe will be suppressed comparatively easily/. Tho Dofenoa Conference. > "I, of course, am not at liberty to.3i6cuss anything'that, transpired at the Defence- Conference this morning. Instructions havo been issuod that there is to bo'iio divulgence of what. is discussed, and rightly so in' tho interests of tho Empire"; buvl wish to emphasise tho imperative necessity of the Conference arriving. at • a definite scheme, and not passing resolutions that may only be left for record, and not acted on. It would bo suicidal.not to recognise that the evolution which is going' on in other countries calls for markedly forward ; movements on' the part of the Old Motherland, in co-operation with her dominions, beyond tho seas. The old policy whieh.up, to now has been sufficient to meet the protective conditions of Empire are now not sufficient, and I feel confident that British statesmen, in co-operation with those of the colonies, will, *at the conference, a', scheme, though necessarily one of a flexible nature, to meet local oircumstances j and -the, schemo w'jll..bo one for strengthening the Navy,' and consequently enhancing,the, solidarity, of. tho Empire: ' • . ■ ■' ,'•_ ••' "The goal may bo'distant,, but it exists, and can bo reached. There arc difficulties in the way, but with, prudence, forbearance, wisdom, and moderation, they, are all surmountable, arid surmounted thoy will 'be. •Then, in the words qf a great .'English writer:—, ".'; ■ >..■ "Come the three'corners of the world in aims, And we shall shock them; nought shall make ,us rue. i i . ■ .. ■ If; England to herself; remain, but: true." _ ■At the conclusion of his speech Sir Joseph ■Ward';.was heartily; cheered. ~ , '