CANADA'S NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 5

CANADA'S NAVY.

OPINION DIVIDED. By Tolceraph—Press Association—Copyright London, .Tune 30. ■'"J'lio Times," in. eoinincntin:,' on Ilio approaching conference between -t lit? Naval authorities ami Oaiiadia.ii Ministers, .-.(atos Hint Canadian opinion i< deeply divided. Tin , parly in power refj'anls it us impossible, to have a M-]iar;il-i>: naval |Kili<-y and common Imperial Mtiwnship; the Liberals, on the oilier hand, uie lnunted by a. fear that Iliu Dominion may bn drawn inlo llii. vortex of European mililuri-m. This tar, <-ays "ThuJl'imcs" has ftill to ly. reckoned with, "ft is vitally important that any action on (lie part n( (he Dominions should havo national j-anulion. anil Kn.', , - Idih! line-, no , ; desire to dictate a jKilicy. Ml. Churchill's Klljigestcil over-mis patrol was excellently contrived to avert Mich fear.-."

POLICY CVF TIIF, DOKDF.N MINISTRY. As I indicated in a previous dispatch (wroto the Toronto correspondent of (ho l/ondnn '"rimes" on Mav 22), IVeliiiß in favour of an .xlrr,n ;i tr- contribulion to sea defence, has made sirikiii- headway tlirniiphniit I In? toiintry. l-'or a. time it seemed (liaf. with the defeat of (he l.ailrier fidvernmi'iit and the apparent suli-.-mlcih:!- ol' iicutn I'l-i-linc between Ureal Hritain and (iermai'y. Canada would return lo her old attiludn of indifference. It is Him- clciirly apparent that the argument-; in favour of iin Imperial Navy havo sunk deep into the minds of tho people, ami (hat early and effective, action by the Government is imperative. The policy of Mr. Hnrden and his collcasrucs is still undeveloped, lint there is much feeling in favour of an immediate contribution in cash or Dreadnoughts, to bo followed by n definite programme, the main I'ooliifcs of which will be determined in consultation and co-operation with the Admiralty.

Tho chances are that the ultimate , policy will comprise the best features of tlio Lauricr programme with a fleet of cruisers and naval colle>;es, possibly on tho Pacific as well us on the Atlantic, together with battle cruisers or Dreadnoughts to Rive the Navy Imperial value, the whole to constitulo an integral portion of tho Imperial I'lccl.