THE BRITISH NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1921, Page 3

THE BRITISH NAVY

AN ADMIRALTY. STATEMEMENT. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. (Received Tim Day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 12. The Admiralty emphatically deny ll ! ... I" ... ... a.i. I, . 1 ItA 1-to I O

there is any Inundation for ttie statements published in Australia and America regarding British-Ainerican to- . operation in the Pacific or any other overt action calculated to implicate the ’ Dominions in any new naval enterprises.. The Admiralty informed the Australian Press that it was absolutely untrue there were any proposals for American, Canadian and Australian fleets to work together in the Pacific, or

anywhere else. The Admiralty is unaware of any proposal for the Dominions co-operating independently of the ' British Navy. On the contrary, they had maintained close liason of naval forces throughout the Empire, which i rendered independent action by any < tie part, practically impossible. They denied any proposal was formulated for an increased naval contribution from the Dominions. That was a matter entirely for the Dominions. Should the necessity for increased contributions or a broader naval policy arise in a future day it would be first discussed by the naval rejpresentatives of Empire then by the Imperial Defence Commit- j tee and finally by the Governments con- ! leerned No such necessity had yet arisen. Tt was more than possible the 1 future programme would be discussed at the next Imperial Conference, but that was a matter within the province of the Prime Minister who would draft the agenda late A The sub-committee of the Admiralty is restricting its in- ! quiry to technical utility and tactical value of battleships and the Dominions would be informed of the result.