AUSTRALIA’S RESPONSIBILITIES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 1 October 1901, Page 2

AUSTRALIA’S RESPONSIBILITIES.

With Australia’s birth as a nation begins her real trouble Young, lusty and strong for her age, Australia will doubtless “ fear no foe ” especially as she has Britain “ The Mistress of the Seas ” as her defender—and a right good defender too. But Australia will have to face her responsibilities as becomes a nation, and not depend upon the United Kingdom alone to bear the cost of “ the first line of defence.” Already the subject is occupying public attention at Home. Australia will ere long be asked the question “ What proportion of the Naval expenditure are you prepared to pay.” Indeed the proposition has already been put forth by the United Service Gazette which declares that the day that Australians are called upon to resist the onslaught of some great invading force by massing troops for the defence of their coasts will mark the close of our rule of the seas, and consequently the disintegration of our vast diminions. We would therefore rather see the new Commonwealth coming forward with proposals for assisting to maintain what must always bo the first line of defence, than introducing schemes which can only come into operation if the navy has proved inadequate for its task. In other words, Australia should make sure that she has her first line before she provides for the second “ Maintenance of sea supremacy has been assumed as the basis of the system of Imperial defence against attack by sea ” are the words of the President of Defence Committee of the Cabinet, but we are unable to see why the United Kingdom should alone bear the cost of providing for the maritime security of the whole Empire. Australia has very considerable sea interests, her sea borne trade being nearly double that of the whole Russian Empire. Her relations with Europe and the East are also growing in importance and sometimes threaten to involve the Empire in complications which might lead to the exercise of naval force. For example, the attempt which is now being made to carry a Bill in the Federal Parliament to restrict Japanese Immigration will most probably cause some friction with the Eastern Power.