MR. A. S. MALCOLM, M.P. ON IMPERIAL UNITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1220, 31 August 1911, Page 6

MR. A. S. MALCOLM, M.P. ON IMPERIAL UNITY.

AT THE TOWN HALL,

Mr. A. S. Malcolm, M.P., delivered a lecture in Hie Concert Chamber ol llio Town Hall last night on the "subject of "Imperial I'odemion." His Excellency Ihe Governor presided, and there was a large and appreciative audience. LORD ISLINGTON. A WORD FOR. THE NAVY LEAGUE, nis Excellency referred to the pleasure which it gave him to have an opportunity of hearing the lecturer of tno evening on a subject which the latter had given deep consideration and towards which lie had rendered no inconsiderable service'-by awakening people to Ino necessity of Imperial defence. Ihcre was certainly no subject, which at hio present moment demanded more active interest or dispassionate consideration. l">s was- especially the ease with olio Imincli of Imperial defence-naval ascendency, n was a subject, all living under tho iintish ilag were all inlurestcd in-tlic organisation and establishment of our military and naval system in such a way as to protect the wliolo as a united■ hmpire. He was also glad to bo present because it gavo him an opportunity ol associating himself with the Wellington branch of the Navy league. The objects of tho Navy League, his Excellency said, were to awaken in the most vivid manner possible the attention of every Ijrltish subject to an appreciation ot the fact that tho whole life and destiny of tho Empiro depended upon the unchallenged maintenance of sen power. He thought, too, that they would ail agreo that t.lio geographical conditions of the British Empiro accentuated the necessity for the disscmiintion of knowledge by the Navy League. Although of recent years immense strides had been made in public appreciation of tho role of the Navy, he was nevertheless afraid _ that there might still linger, to a certain extent, in the minds of some an idea that ' the Navy was established, for the protection of tho Mother Country only. The work of the Navy League was to assiduously endeavour to remove that impression wherever it might exist. In conclusion, his Excellency remarked that ho hoped to live to see the day when there would arise a general desire to reconstruct the fleet and bring it to a state of efficiency that might ensure its most effective strength being brought to bear wherever the occasion might demand. Then those opposed to us would commit themselves to war with llio full knowledge that they would have to confront a united fleet.

MR. MALCOLM. A PARLIAMENT OF EMPIRE. Mr. Malcolm, who was the speaker for tho evening, prefaced his remarks by defining what he meant by Imperial Federation. This, he thought, should bo the government of the Empire by a Parliament elected by the people of all parts of the Empire—a Parliament with power to legislate, on all Imperial questions. Those (itiestions that concerned one country only could still bo dealt with by that country, but questions winch concerned the Empire as a whole would l>e settled by this Imperial Parliament. One of tho great questions for that Parliament would of course be Imperial defence, and it had also been suggested that it could deal with trade and commerce, Imperial judiciary, civil service, shipping and navigation, migration in tho Empire of coloured races, trusts, copyright?, weights and measures, etc. But Imperial defence was the really important question and, in answer to the argument that there was no necessity to trouble about being prepared for war when the great nations had been at peaco so long, the lecturer remarked that war was natural to man and, as it was sure to came sooner or later, it was absolutely necessary to be prepared. In one part of the world they saw Germany shaping an army and navy that would rival Britain and, in another part of the world, they saw Japan making rapid strides. However;',, although I, Japan" had an increasing navy and army and a very devoted people, although its islands were filled with people that must find an outlet somewhere; although the Japanese Government had not been able to make that uss of their recent conquests that they hoped to because Manchuria and Korea were not suitable for settlement,' and although in those conditions, they rnisht look towards Australia and New Zealand, still ho did not consider there wns any Teal danger .from Japan which, with a population of comparatively small dimensions, would have trouble enough to guard its own interests against China', with such a large population. But. on the other hand, danger threatened from Germany. The people of Germany slood condemned by its past Jiislory. Ever since the insult put upon them in the Nai)ol*onic w.its, they had s;t to work to build up such an army as would make their nation supremo in. Europe. And when one saw the fleet of ships that had been building in tho Baltic and North Seas in tho past few years it could only be inferred that they were intended for the humiliation of the British nation. Ho hoped that that would never corno to pass.

Keforrin? to the fact that, while it cost. Britain. 28s. per head to maintain its Army, it cost Germany only 19s. per he.id. the lecturer asked: How Inn," could Britain stand tlio strain? The verv existence of the Empire, said Mr. Malcolm, depended on Imperial Federation, which alone could keep the military an.d naval forces of the nation towthor so that they could be all relied upon in time of war. Already Canada had declared that her army miqht not enter into any war of which she did not approve, fo that there was a risk that some of the most valuable assistancn, wliich Britain relied upon, might not bo forthcoming in time of need. Here was proof of tho necessity of an Imperial Federation to govern the Army of the Empire. Other great questions, such as immigration, would hnvo to be settled by the fame. Parliament. Unity was the only means by which the power of the nation could be maintained. Thoy must cliiifr together, for any trend towards tho separation of the Empire's Dominions must mean a weakening of the Empire its'rlf.

Sir John Findlay, wbo was present, rose to propose a. vote of thanks to the lecturer, and spoke in support of (he rchemc of Imperial Federation. As; a rule the pioneer of any great idea found himself a voito crying in tho wilderness, nnd was confronted with innumerable difficulties. But if in the past great movements had been, allowed to drop because of the difficulties in tho way no qreat aspirations would ever have been achieved, as instance tho federations of America and Germany.