CANADA'S NAVAL. POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1466, 14 June 1912, Page 5

CANADA'S NAVAL. POLICY.

N J MR. BORDEN CONSULTING THE ADMIRALTY. 8y Tcleeranh—Pri>«« AFsoofatfoE—Copyrlslil (Rec. June 13, 11 p.m.) _ Ottawa, June 13. Mr. Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, is visiting England to discuss Canada's navy policy in connection with Empire defence, and also copyright laws, and lower rates of inauranco for Canadian shipping. BORDEN CABINET'S POLICY. It is an unfortunate circumstance (says the naval correspondent of the London -"Daily Telegraph") that naval policy has become an acute pai-ty question in Canada. The issues are liable to become confused, tho views of Canadians distorted, and public money not improbably will be wasted. Tho Prime Minister recently announced the intention of the new Government to abandon the Laurier policy, as being wasteful, useless for the defence of Canadian interests, and constituting no assistance to the Imperial Fleet in the general defence of the, Empire. The late Ministry proposed originally to build four protected cruisers and six destroyers, which were to be distributed on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards—thus forming two weak naval detachments, which could have exercised no influence on the course of a war nor offered any effective protection to Canadian commerce or territory. Sir Wilfrid Laurier went out of office leaving this nebulous scheme to his successors, and Mr. Borden at once stated that he had determined to seek the honest advice of the Board of Admiralty as to tho best form in which tho Dominion could at one and the same time contribute to tho defence of the Empire, and protect Canada's snecial interests. The Borden Government realise that the Dominion is defended by tho metropolitan fleets of the British Navy. They wish to be assured that whatever money they spend will be put to the best advantage. It is of importance (adds the "Telegraph") that the real facts of the situation should be set forth. Canadians may thus understand that the Laurier scheme represents a large and wasteful expenditure of public money, which the peoplo of tho Dominion can keep in their pockets without thereby further endangering either Canadian or Imperial interests. It is also of importance that the true state of affairs 3honld be understood in New Zealand in particular, and in Australia, the fleet units of which are now 011 the eve of completion. These ships will be a real and valuable contribution to the security of the Empire made by two sections of British subjects .overseas who. combined, do ' not equal the population of Canada. Unless the truth as to the naval agreements of the Colonial Conference was set forth these loyal members of the great Confederation might think they had been misled. It. is, above all, of importance that the people of the South African Union, who have yet to face the problem of naval defence, should not misunderstand the situation.