THE DOMINIONS & THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 23 April 1913, Page 9

THE DOMINIONS & THE EMPIRE.

CO-OPERATION IN DEFENCE. WELCOME TO THE HON. J. ALLEN ' Colonel' Seely, Secretary of State for •JWar, presided at a luncheon given by tho Empire Association in the Earcourt Room; House of Commons, in London, on March IjS, to. the Hon. James Alien, Minister for Defenco for New. Zealand, and the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, ■High Commissioner for New Zealand. Among those present were Mr. Lewis 11 arpourt (Secretary nf State for the Colonies), and Harco'urt, Viscount Kniltsford (Vico-Presideat, United Kingdom branch, 'Empire Parliamentary Association), Lord Blyth (Joint Hon. Treasurer), the Hon. Milliccnt lilyth, Earl and Countess BrasKey, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, M.P., Sir Walter Buchanan (Mow Zealand), Lord Clinton, Lord and Lady .Southwark, Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward, Mrs. and Miss Allen, Mrs. and Miss Mackenzie, Lady Ethol Baird, Mr. J. J. Carrick (Executive Canadi;«i Branch li.i'.A.), Dr. AV. A. Chappie, M.r., Sir C. J. Cory, M.P, Mr Arthur l'oll,'M:P., Mr. llayes Usher,M.P. (Deputy-Chairman, United Kingdom Branch, 8.P.A.) and Mrs. ■ Hayes lusher, Hon. VV. A. "Holinan (Attorney-General • l'or Now South Wales), Sir Henry Kimbor, Martin Kennedy. (New -Zea-land),-<air.-H."JL W. Lawson, AI.P. (Joint Hon. Treasurer, .United Kingdom Branch, li.i'.A.), Sir Gilbert' l'arker, M.P., Sir Albert Spicer, M.P., and Laoy Spicor, Mr. J. Cathcart Wascn, M.P., Mr. i. Cr. Matthews (Secretary to-New Zealand Defeiuo Minister), and Mr, Howard d'Egvillo (Hon.' Secretary, United Kingdom Branch; E.J'.A.). The chairman, proposing the health of Mr. Allen, said that was one of the most, representative gatherings' that had . been brought together on au occasion 'of that Idikl within the precincts'of tho Houses of Parliament. _ Not only did it include members of both Houses of Parliament, .but members of both political parties. (Hear,. hear.) Whatever party was in power in tills country, it was the same with U3 as with parties in New Zealand— the work of Imperial co-operation went on. (Hear, hear.) He might also remind them that New' Zealand Mvas-the pioneer in tho practical contribution to the problems .ot Imperial strategy and Imperial defone'e. (Chcei-s.) .It was to the Government of which' Sir Joseph Ward was the head that they owed the first offer of a Dreadnought—(cheers)—as a practical contribution to tho Tjinpiro's naval defence. Ho did' not think lie' - was revealing a secret when ho stated that at this ■moment Mr. Allen, Now Zealand's Defenco Minister, was making further arrangements to secure to us, if anything vital to tho interests of the '-.Empire ';-arose, that wo should have. thß militiiry co-operation* ot. New Zealand. (Cheers.) A Parliament for the Empire. Mr.'Allen; in responding, said they in tho new lands had.a great respect for the Parliamentary , institutions di this Old Country, and they were hopeful that, some day the Imperial Parliament would produce some, means by which it' would not only control theso British Isles, .but alsu' the whole of tho Empire. * He thought thai tho right way to approach that problem was by cautiousstages-^-that tho process of the development of the future Parliament, of .the ■Empire.should bo liko: that of the Parliament 'of the United Kingdom;, they should begin by taking li'ttlo steps until the right moment camo for . a strong forward movement, and then.-they should- take a long step. (Hear, hear.) It might be fairly assumed that there would bo somo day a change in the Constitution of tho Empire which would admit of the representation of other parts outsido tlio United Kingdom \yhich, althorigh not so important as Great Britain to-day, might possibly bcconie in process of.time not.less important in relation, to the Empire as -a'!wht)lo , J th.'in''thc;old Country itself. (Hear,.. liear.) .Already this country .had made, a great advanco in. throwing open tho doors.of.th'o Imperial Conferencdr.tp..,.thp.:represeutative9. ot'rtiio Dominions, : and although tho Dominions !had. not benefited--09. much .as they, might liavo dono from the . deliberations, .'and determinations of. those; Conferences, that was perhaps their.;o\vu fault. TheMother Country...-had,. in 'the popular phraso, called them to her councils, and tho result had been a, marked improve,.nicnt' in -public feeling in New Zealand and tlie other • Dominions in Emjjiro affairs., A further , and very important step was when tho British Government invited the Dominions to enter tho Committee of Imperial Defence. (Hear, hear.) Ho thanked tho I'rimo Minister , for having invited him' to aittend a meeting of that Committee, and although he was quite awaro that it was but an Advisory Committee, ho realised that it:did not represent the last Step iii the • direction of an Imperial authority on defence. He did not, ask anybody to take an insecure step in ithat matter. He did. not want them to do anything too rapidly. (Hear, hear.) Colonel Seely had referred to the strategical importance of concentration for naval defenco. Well, Australia had recognised that. (Hear, hear.) Another principle they must also keep in mind was itnat tho British people could not get the people of tho Oversea Dominions to mako the sacrifices that thoy ought to mako unless they felt that they wero doing tangible, realitvu that they imero doinj; sonicribing in .which -they had a practical part. (Cheers.) The payment of a subsidy by tho Dominions to be spent by the British people as the British people wished would not in tlie long'run appeal ito their Dominion sentiment and patriotic feelings. IE the Imperial authorities would guide the Dominions,. if they would -uso the, efforts of the Dominions for Imperial purposes. ' they would ; draw from 'tho Dominions much greater : sacrifices than before. ((Hear, hear.) , ' .