The Dominion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1913. PRIDE OF POSSESSION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1874, 7 October 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1913. PRIDE OF POSSESSION.

..... i ■ ■ ■ j 1 I The arrival of the nucleus of the Australian Navy in Australian waters is certainly entitled to be regarded as one of the great events in ( the history of the Commonwealth. It , also marks a new departure in Imperial defence, for Australia is the first of the • overseas Dominions to possess a war fleet of its own; and thiß great step forward indicates a spirit of self-reliance which shows i that Australia is definitely prepared I to tako upon itself a very real share . of responsibility-for the defence of the Empire. Tho people of New Zea- . land will heartily endorse the- mes- 1 sago of the Government congratulating the Commonwealth on_ its patriotism and self-sacrifi'co "in_ assisting the Empire by undertaking so splendid a contribution to the naval defence of the Southern Seas."_ It is indeed a splendid contribution, and tho people of Australia will now have the satisfaction of seeing in their own waters a decidedly tangible return for their naval vote in the form of seven well-equipped and up-to-date warships. This pride of possession cannot fail to create and develop a vigorous naval spirit in the Commonwealth such as could never be aroused by mere financial contributions towards the support of a navy stationed elsewhere. No wonder the fleet has received a magni- ' ficent welcome on its arrival in SydI ney Harbour. The people had every right to be proud of the occasion, for tho building of those warships meant a real sacrifice, and tho \ keenness of one's appreciation of . anything is genorally in proportion - to the sacrifice made in order to get it. Just as a freeholder takes a } pride in his own homestead that a leaseholder can never enjoy_, so tho strong young nation which has grown up in Australia is filled with enthusiasm by the feeling of owner- - ship stimulated by the procession of. f warships which sailod up Sydney Harbour on Saturday. This sense of ownership and the 7 duty of defending tho Empire was, - we are told, the keynote of the offi--7 cial banquet held in the Sydney Town Hall. The Governor-General 6 emphasised the point that they had arrived at a parting of the ways in j that Australia had now definitely taken up its own burden in the mat- • ter of naval defence. Lord Deniian did not for a moment mean by his reference to a "parting of the ways" that the new departure implied any , loosening of the bonds which bind tho Commonwealth to the Mother Country. Far from it. The local navy is the natural expression of a growing bcdso of nationhood which finds satisfaction in the realisation that it has accepted an actual share in tho responsibilities of Empire. Self-defence is one of the • first steps towards tho fulfilment of this ideal; but in Australia's ease it is something more than mere solf- ' defence that is aimed at. The Australian Navy will relieve the if Motherland of part of its heavy's naval burden, by helping to main--0 tain British supremacy in the Sou- '• them Seas. Before long Canada will probably, ako bo doius its sharo

in protecting Imporial interests in the Pacific, and New Zealand has been for some time in constant consultation with the Homo authorities for tho purpose of ascertaining the part it can play to the best advantage in the naval defence of the' Empire. Like Australia we have cometo a parting of the ways. Old methods must give place to new; but we want to be quite suro that no mistake is made regarding the permanent policy of naval development upon which we are about to embark. Though Australia's courageous determination to lay the foundations of: a local navy must have an important bearing on the future of Imperial defence, it should be borne in mind that no permanent naval policy for tho Empire as a whole has yet been worked out. Canada is still uncertain as to the form its share of the responsibility will finally take. The spirit is willing, but the exigencies of the present political situation mako decisive action extremely difficult. There are two rival policies In tho field. One favours, a separate navy on the Australian plan; the other proposes a contribution in Dreadnoughts, increasing cooperation with tho Admiralty, and more effective representation in the Councils of the Empire. Tho attitude of South Africa is even more uncertain than that of Canada, which is not surprising in view of the recent history of the Union Some time ago a movement was started in Canada for a Pacific Naval Conference at Vancouver, but the general opinion seems to be that the present is not an opportune time for such a meeting. A conference of wider scope at which the whole Empire would bo represented has also been suggested in order that tho question of Imperial defence may be fully discussed in view of the important happenings sinco the last Imperial Conference. Mr. Asquith has, however, decided against the proposal. His decision has no doubt been influenced by the critical,state of British politics, and it is verj doubtful whether Canada or South Africa is propared to commit itseli at the present time to any definite line of action in naval matters. Mr. Herbert Sahuel, the British Post-master-General, recently • declared that the Dominions aro perfectly free to decide on any naval policy they ■ may think fit. This is perfectly true, but it is not very helpful, for the Dominions want to adopt a scheme which will fit in with some general system of Imperial defence, and this can only be done by some, form 'of consultation and co-operation. It is for this reason that tho New Zealand Government is at present in • communication with the Imperial authorities. The negotiations havo been protracted, but the Prime Minister stated yesterday that he hoped to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject in the course of a week or two. /