N.Z. CLUB LUNCHEON.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 21 October 1913, Page 4

N.Z. CLUB LUNCHEON.

—.— THE WAK PROBLEM. TREATED BY MR. L, S; AMERY. One of the most successful luncheons held by tlio New Zealand Club for somo time was that given yesterday, when the guests of the day wero Messrs. L. •&. Amery, M.P., of Great Britain, and J S. Ewart, K.C., of Canada. Mr. A. 11. Atkinson presided, and amongst those present were:—Tlio Hon. Jnmea Allen (Minister of Defence), tho Hon. H. D. Bell, K.C. (Minister of Internal Affairs), Sir Joseph Ward. Hon. 0. M. Luke, M.L.C., Mr. T. M. Wilford. M.P., and Mr. J. P. Luko (Mayor of Wellington).

MR. AMERY'B SPEECH. HOW TO MEET CHANGED TIMES F Mr. Amery delivered & very interesting address on Imperial Defence. The British raco, ho said, was at present holding a quarter of tho habitable globe, and its claim to rulo would only b'a challenged when the Empire was unable to maintain that claim by force.' It was a claim which Britain "had been able to support unchallenged for decades after Trafalgar and Waterloo. It was therefore no new claim, but what was new was the world against which it had now to be maintained. That world had been transformed in our generation. The development of Europe, and the groat rate at which tho population Was increasing, demanded great navies. Every year Germany added to its population as many people as now lived in Now Zealand. Every year added to her mfeht. By "coming later," however, she had not received her fair sharo of tho habitable regions of the world. The great development of tho races was not confined to Europe. A world-power had arisen in America, which had disregarded tlio oxelusiveness of tho Monroe doctrine, and had taken a foremost placo in foreign politics. Further than that, we had to look not only to the white races in America and Europe. In a few years Japan had emerged from the customs and prejudices of the middle ages to the position of a grdat industrial and military power. The Japanese were our allies to-day. And this alliance had been of great service to tho Empire and to the causfi of peace. ;

1 Wanted—Bonds of iron. There were many problems which could 3101 bo settled by diplomacy ortly. The whole world was in a state of shrinkage, and the conquest of the 1 air might still more accentuate that shrinkage. As that shrinkage was increased, and each part of tho Kmpiro became closer to tlio other, we should sco that tho bonds which united us should be iron, and not crockery. (Applause.) All this expansion of the outer world was on lines in which military and naval power was only secondary. In order to cope with it* wo must develop our own resources and population. Internal dangers would bring to lis need to develop our own resources ; but industry and population were by themselves 110 defence. We must take measures of defence which rested upon us. The people of the Empire must Undertake the responsibility of defence resting on them. The people of tlio Old Country had not failed to recogniso their auty, and they would not shrink froip the task. (Applause.) ThesisterStat.es, of. the Empire had also recognised their responsibility.

| The Problem. Tlio speaker had nothing hut admiration for the splendid spirit of Australia and New Zealand in undertaking their local'systems of defence, and their schemes for tho defence of their coon- 1 try. In that respect thoy had given an oxample to tho Old Country; but. tho ever-ready expeditionary army of tho Homeland was not less important than the Territorial armies of the colonies. (Applause.) It was essential to tlio welfare of tho Empire that she should maintain the command of the seas. (Applause.) Tlio Empirewas a creature of sea power, and without command of the sea there could bo no co-operation for defence between the different parts of the Empire. Co'mmand of the sea was essential. (Applause.) The task of naval defence would be greatly lightened if private property were mado immune at sea, but in caso of international turmoil—so long as tho present conditions ruled—that was the step which would bo taken by any combatant determined to bring tho Empire to its knees. But still tho command of tho seas would bo necessary to prevent New Zealand from being crushed. There must always remain the power of reinforcing and protecting every part of tlie Empire. This did not mean having moro ships than other nations in every part at every time. In this respect'tho experience of the Russians in their war with Japan was instructive. He believed that in order to bo reasonably secure they should aim to comand tho waters of the Pacific, ns well as tho waters adjoining tho Atlantic.

strategic Unity Paramount. Tlion arose tho now question—Hom could tho different Governments of the tonipiro co-operate to ensure commanc or tlio sear*. In the first place, there must bo unity of strategical command, they aliould unito r f ot only for action in tho caso of tho declaration of war. but ior all that practice on the high Beas iS! 1 leads U P to preparedness for .war, llio whole fleet must always work together if it is to meet with success. Secondly, there must bo unity of tradition and spirit throughout the scrvico. There nuist bo ono servioc and ono spirit, oven if the fleet is divided into separate naval units. Tho fleet must bo a fleet of units each depending on tho other, and not a jumble of fleets each witli its own notions. Tairdly, in tho long run, the naval strength of the Empire must be based on the resources of each part of tho Empire. It must not bo defended by snen and ships from one corner of tho Empire only. They must strive, therefore, for unity in spirit, design, and action. (Applause.) Statesmanship AfTcctlng War. Defence and foreign policy were two inseparable things. Tho diplomat, it might bo said, presented a cheque; tho value of the cheque depended entirely on the resources of tho Empire in ships and men. Sooner or later, tho foreign policy of the Empire would bo the concern not only of the British Isles, but of all tho Dominions. He thought tho Imperial Conference could meet oftener than once in four years. Each part of' the Empire should be. ablo to liberate ono responsible Minister or more to moot periodically. There should also bo a British Minister so free. Not only should coloniol Ministers go Ifomo, but tho Imperial Ministry should havo 0110 responsible Minister who could give tho whole of his timo to tho problems of the colonies. At present, when n colonial Minister wont Home, he 'had to be. content to meet an Imperial Minister in that spare time 110 happened to have. This should not he. The' colonies woro now so important that there should be a Minister always " on call." Furthermore, it should not be impossible for a Homo Minister to visit the colonies. 'JV sneaker concluded with tlio statement that he had touched only 011 the fringe of the subject of Imperial defence. MR. EWART'S SPEECH. CANADA'S ATTITUDE TO DEFENCE. Mr, En-art, who had only « few minutes at lis disposal, spoke of tho Caaa-,

dian attitude towards Imperial defence. The question in Canada, ho said, was not ono of money, but whether sevon millions should bo contributed to tlio British Navy or spent oil t'ho construction of a Canadian fleet. Mr. Borden had favoured tho Imperial Navy policy, while Sir Wilfrid Laiirier had proposed t'ho establishment of two fleet units, ono on tho Atlantic coast, and ono on the Pneifie. This would cost them seven millions. Canada was not mean. (Loud applause.) The opposition to t'ho Canadian Navil policy had arisen from tho opinion that ■ the grout Dominion should not becomo an important contributor to tlio Imperial Navy until she had a fair say in tlio foreign policy of tho Empire. Thev wished 'to guard against the possibility of tho Canadian fleet being neutral and inactive during a great Imperial struggle. Tlio speaker concluded by referring to tho great distance which divided tho Dominions of Canada and Now Zealand, and expressed tho hope that this difficulty would soon bo overcome by means of mutsial trade of friendship. (Loud applause.)