RECIPROCITY IN DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1609, 28 November 1912, Page 5

RECIPROCITY IN DEFENCE.

« AUSTRALIA'S INVITATION*' NEW ZEALAND AND THE NAVY SCHEME. PLANS FOR MUTUAL SUPPORT. By Tclczraph—Press Association—Copyricht Sydney, November 27. Mr. Pearcc, Minister for Defence, in tho course of an interview on defence reciprocity with Now Zealand, said: "1 think pubtic opinion in New Zealand on tho matter of Australasian defence is swinging round in our direction. Though no official proposals have leen made for cooperation in defence, there has boen informal correspondence between the Premiers, resulting in the visit of General Godley, who conferred with - BrigadierGeneral Gordon, Commonwealth Chief of General Staff, regarding plans for mutual support in timo of war. "That is ali that can be said at present, but. I think the time is not far distant when Australia and New Zealand will be found acting side by sido in matters of defence. What has been done hitherto relates chiefly to tho. military aide. It is impossible to foster a national patriotic spirit on a subsidy basis. We see already in the receptions accorded tho crews of our torpedo destroyers how the national spirit is growing-in the Commonwealth, and can'form some idea of the strong national feeling which will bo evoked when the Australian fleet; comes i into being; and it is in this direction, I tliink, that public opinion in New Zealand is now tending." NO INSUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES. PROBLEMS IDENTICAL. Sydney, November 27. The "Herald" says- "The proposal for a co-operative system of defence between Australia and Now Zeahnd presents few difficulties. There is nothing insuperable. Lord Kitchener's scheme already applies to either, and both- possess similar organisation, and principle of service. It involves no sacrifice of any existing institution to combine the land forces, and make an Australasian army. Regarding the naval aspect, the question is slightly more complicated. This, .however, should prove no obstacle. We do not presume to pose as an interpreter of the motives of-New Zealand in regard to naval policy, but it must strike an outsider that the policy may have been dictated by considerations which would have less weight under an Australasian co-operative scheme tf defence. It would be a grievous, unnecessary burden for New Zealand alone to equip a fleet of any practical utility. Given the opportunity of adding her resources to the Commonwealth's, she might take a different view! Even if a great obstacle existed, the advantages accruing would be so enormous as to make it worth surmounting. Australia and New Zealand are white lands under the shadow of Asia and Africa. Their future will be the same, their enemies the same, whether the bolt comes from the East or the West. One cannot discriminate between the two. In our eyes, perhaps, the distance separating us is great; in those of the world we are bulked together. In politics each of us may have to 'dree our own weird,' but in defence our problems are identical. Should the foreshadowed development come about, it will maTk the greatest step towards the security of Australasia 1 yet seen." .THE IMPERIAL SCHEME. AUSTRALIA' AND CONCENTRATION. Melbourne, November 27. In the House of Representatives, • Mr. Bruco Smith asked whether correspondence had passed between the Prime Minister (Mr. Andrew Fisher) and the Imperial Government suggesting any change in the existing arrangement with regard to the Australian Fleet, and providing for the concentrated control of the naval forces of tho Empire. . Mr. i Fisher replied that the Government did not consider that the policy of a governing naval unity should be departed from. Tho extension of that principle of defence was considered best for the Commonwealth and all parts of the Empire. No correspondence had passed with a view to changing the general policy of the Government on the question. Concentration would be determined by events which could not he foreseen. SOUTH AFRICAN POLICY. . . LOCAL FLEET FAVOURED. Cape Town, November 26. General Botha, Prime Minister of South Africa, in a speech at Standerton, said that before dealing with the naval defence contribution question, ho wished to give the Defence Act a chance of proving itself. He favoured South Africa having its own fleet to protect South African waters.