DEFENCE THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1913, Page 3

DEFENCE THE PACIFIC

' ytoSENEATF , a ' Sir,— l ' rctf^ " - 1 /"' ried your leader of the &li jtfst., Jj which your correspondent " Vox t( asserts if not characterised by your _ usual accuracy. /There is certainly noticing inaccurate in your Btajtcnie»t that Australia- and NewZealand have their own special dangers, which arc of no direct, concern to -the people of the United Kingdom. Tho mere fact that Britain owns most of the ships .that trade here, and" also has large sums invested /n this Dominion, gives her no more interest in tho and safety of this country than in tho safety of "Russia or the ' United States, in which countries her investments are greater than they t are here.- "Vox' asserts, that Imperialism "is> more or lees a matter .of business t '! Possibly it is ; i- and > possibly, tho , relationship that exists between " Vox " and- his parents or hi* family "is more or less v matter of _ business." The " Imperialistic idea" is possessed no' more by the British capitalist than by .the 'British farmer, shopkeeper, or A professional man, and i«s probably as high an idea as any idea held by " Vox." his a matter* .that (fortunately) cannot ' be put to- the test; but I think • if " Vox " had the most rudimentary acquaintance with "world politics"', he. would , feel convinced that the independence and safety enjoyed for so long by British colonies has been due solely to the protection afforded 1 by the British name-; indeed, wercit not for -.this-" Vox 1 ' wduld be at the present-time a, valued- member of the French, German, or, perhaps, Japanese nationality. -Possibly,"- however, "Vox" is, 'not British or' of British descent, - and thinks fljat his , residence in^ these British dominions would have been happier had they been under some, other rule.— l am, etc., ' ' BRITISH COLONIAL. .Wellington^ ,10th February, 1913.