THE BRITISH NAVY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 255, 22 July 1921, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY

DEVISING SCHEME OF EMPIRE DEFENCE RESPONSIBILITY THROWN ON PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE ALLOCATION OF THE COST By Telegraph—Presa Association— Copyright London, July 20. The naval question discussion was continued before tho Imperial Conference today. The First Lord of tho Admiralty and the First Sea Lord were present. The position was explained frankly and clearly to the Imperial delegates, showing the relative strength of the British and foreign navies before the war and at present. Tho lessons of the war were reviewed, in conjunction with the experience of centuries. One statement showed that Japan owns eleven ships, and America. eight, each far more powerful than anything in tho Pacific. Having disclosed tho inmost secrete, developments, and prospects, the responEfibility was thrown on Conference to decide a scheme to achieve the best results for the whole Empire. “XVhnt are you going to do about it?” was the Admiralty’s way of launching tho final debate. , The efforts of tho Conference will be concentrated on devising a scheme for Empire defence acceptable to tho general principles of all delegates, who will take lit for submission to their Parliaments for approval and ratification and detailed examination. Tho accepted scheme will he put before each Dominion Cabinet, showing the total cost of the proposed shares allotted by Conference. The details will permit a full discussion. One proposal is that tho additional cost should come out of the German reparations, but other delegates pointed out that the Dominions and Britain will pay just the same in the long run. Mr. Meighon wished to rely on the League of Nations and the Monroe Doctrine, tho Navy to be constituted as at present. Mr. W. M. Hughes pointed out that the Dominions paid nothing towards the Navy now. The Monroe Doctrine and the League of Nations did not provide sufficient guarantees at present. If tho Dominions sheltered under the Navy they should 'be prepared to accept a share of the cost. General Smuts said the position of his country was most difficult; it was like Canada, which contained a large leaven of French. South Africa waei not a homogeneous nation. Mr. Hughes jokingly remarked that tho same could Tie said of Australia, that it was Sinn Foin. Ho was prepared to swap two Sinn Feinors for one Dutchman. The discussion centres round on Empire Navy, the Pacific not being specifially dealt with. The position has not been reached when one can say whether the approved scheme will cost Australia more or loss than the Henderson programme. Once a larger plan is decided upon tentatively, tho Pacific proposals will be dealt with in detail. It must lie clearly understood that land defence has not been mentioned at all to-day. Mr. Lloyd George was intensely angry when he called for figures from the Chancellor of tho Exchequer and was presented with an argument. Ho flung the document on tho table as useless, declaring that ho wanted facts, so that delegates would evolve their own views from them. —Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. BUSINESS OF CONFERENCE AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION. Melbourne, July 21. In tho Federal House of Representatives, Sir Joseph Cook read a cable message from Mr. Hughes, stating that it would bo unwise to disclose tho 'business of tho Imperial Conference at this stage, but lie reiterated that anything agreed to by him was not final unless ratified by the Federal Parliament.—Press Assn. COMPLAINTS OF LEAKAGE OF NEWS . SATISFACTORY ADJUSTMENT. London, July 20. The complaints regarding the leakage of Conference news have been adjusted satisfactorily. Mr. Hughes bitterly complained that someone was divulging secrete for consumption abroad. Information was placed before the Conference that General Smuts’s speeches were published verbatim in the Hearst papers in the United States.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.