IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1842, 30 August 1913, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

$ —— ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE DESIRABLE. FOR THREE REASONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, August 29. Tho "Herald," commenting on the Imperial defence question, says;— "Everyone welcomes tho reopening of negotiations for holding an Imperial Conference. The demand for a conference rests oil three clear grounds:— (1) Tho colonial Ministers participating in tho 1909 or the 1911 Conference are not now in power. (2) Tho whole international position has changed since 1909, necessitating a readjustment of policy. This is the reason why England did not adhere to tho 1909 agreement. Australia desires to know what tho highest naval authorities consider necessary in order that Imperial interests in tho Pacific may bo adequately protected. (3) The Conference would clear the air in regard to the whole subject. That there is still need for tho removal of misunderstandings is shown by the debate in tho New Zealand Parliament. It does not seom to bo redognised that the Australian unit is a portion of a great Imporial Navy, and will be used for general Imperial purposes whenever and wherever tho occasion arises. Tho suggestions for co-operation by .Now Zealand and Australia were in every sense consistent with that unity of purposes 'and control which was mentioned in the New Zealand Parliament. THE EMPIRE LOOM. "SWIFT SHUTTLES THAT WEAVE." (Rec. August 29,- 9.30 p.m.) Cape Town, August 29. The Mayor of Capo Town, in a farewell message to tho Australian warships, referred to "tho swift shuttles of /■tlio Empire loom, that weave us from main to main." ,