NAVAL POLICY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 94, 14 January 1921, Page 5

NAVAL POLICY

REPORTS OF CO-OPERATION IN PACIFIC

DENIED BY ADMIRALTY

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

By Telegraph—Prees Association-Copyright.

London, January 12.The Admiralty emphatically denies that there is any foundation for the statements published in Australia aud America regarding British and American naval co-operation in the Pacific, or any other overt action calculated to implicate the Dominions in new naval enterprises. The Admiralty lias informed the Australian Press Association that it is absolutely untrue that any proposals have been made for the American, Canadian, and Australian fleets to work together in the Pacific or anywhere else. The Admiralty is not aware of any proposal that the Dominions should co-operate independently of the British Navy. On tho contrary, the close liaison between the naval forces throughout the Empire rendered independent action by any one part practically impossible. It is denied that any proposal has been formulated for increased naval contributions from the Dominions. That is a matter entirely for the Dominions. Should the necessity for increased contributions oi’ a broader naval policy arise at a future date, it would be first discussed by the naval representatives of the Empire, and then by the Imperial Defence Committee, and finally by the Governments concerned. No such necessity has yet arisen. It is more than possible that the future naval programme would be discussed at the next Imperial Conference, but that is a matter within the province of the Prime Minister, -who will draft the ageiida later. The Sub-Com-mittee of the Admiralty is restricting its inquiry to the technical utility and tactical value of battleships, and the Dominions will be informed of the results. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.