CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1921, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

Imperial Conference

POSSIBILITIES AND PROBABILITIES. MANY CONJECTURES. j AUSTRALIAN ANt) N.Z; CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, June 16 Monday’s sitting of the Conference .• likely to pass without important result, as so many details require e.samining, that marked progress is not likely to he apparent for a day or two The naval defence of the Empire will be debated warmly in the Conference Representatives of Britain have s.iid quite plainly, that she cannot, unaided, hear any longer the enormous expense of maintaining a Navy sufficiently strong to guarantee the safety of every part of the Empire. Britain herself has been the first to recognise that the Dominions should have a voice in training the foreign policy, but a strong foreign policy would be no good, without a powerful navy to back it up, unless the Empire is to be embarrassed by eternal threats of war. These points will he put before the delegates by the Imperial authorities and it will be left for the. Conference to decide what is to be done. It is considered likely that Ad mi rajl Jellicoe’s recommendation that Britain should pay three quarters of tile annual cost and the Dominions one quarter, will he the basis of discussion. The protection of the Pacific will of course, largely focus the Australian view point, Mr Hughes says' Australia is ready to shoulder her part of the burden. Other delegates are not so ohtspoken although Mr Meighen stated that. Canada’s financial position prohibits her embarking on any substantial naval programme at the present. It will he pointed out at the Conference that whereas Canada, South Africa and India are within comparatively easy steaming distance of the most powerful naval force drawn from the centre *of Britain’s might, help could not come to Australia ,or New Zealand in an emergency in less than a month. If these outposts of Empire are not to he instantly crippled on the unexpected outbreak of some wai, before relief arrives, it would be necessary to maintain in the Pacific a sufficiently strong holding force to keep off an enemy for at least four weeks. This would necessitate provision in the Pacific of bases, docks, victualling and coal stations at convenient points, not only to maintain a holding force hut also to provide for the needs of a smashing force on arrival, because its first requirements would most certainly he coal and refitting. This defence by sea must be adequate to meet all the possibilities. The Commonwealth cannot provide this from its „wn resources any more than Brtiain ran provide for defence of the whole F.mpirc. There can be no argument about that phase. The only room foi discussion is on the allocation of the cost.

No official statement is available yet, and -Mr Hughes and Mr Massey both refuse to discuss the matter, hut it is quite certain they will put forward their views on Pacific problems very strongly and frankly at the proper time.

LONDON, June 1(5. It may he taken for granted that Admiral' Henderson’s scheme will be abandoned, hut such parts of it as have been developed will he maintained. Thus the Australia will he kept constantly ready to fight, and smaller ships carrying nucleus crews will be kept in a state.of efficiency. The Adelaide is to be completed as soon as funds, are available. As a matter of fact naval men with whom her future was discussed deplored even the suggestion that she should he allowed to rust at anchor in Sydney harbour. They regarded the Adelaide as likely to he the most effective unit of the fleet and one of the most up-to-date warships of the kind.

Meanwhile a controversy is raging as to the choice of names for the Conference. General Smuts started it by savin*" we must find a name for future meetings as “Imperial Conference” and “Imperial Cabinet,” it is contended do not adequately describe the Assembly, hut it lias been'suggested that “Congress” would. " The “Times” correspondent prefers “Rrittanic” to either “Empire” .or ■•lmperial,” and his view is meeting iVth some support. DEFENCE QUESTION. OTTAWA, June 18. It is now reported from London that Mr Lloyd George will support Mr ' Meighan (Canadian Premier) in urging a postponement of the discussion on Imperial naval defence. Mr Hughes and Mr Massey are in opposition to this course. Probably their opposition will he met by a proposal to hold a conference between Britain, Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, at which all the problems of the Pacific will be reviewed. It is felt that success would he assured if Canada would only take the lead at such a conference, which would do more to settle the Pacific problems than an alliance of navies. Mr Lloyd George is said to be also lukewarm regarding the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. MASSEY ON IMPERIAL TRADING LONDON, June 18. Mr Massey was the chief guest at a, dinner given by the' Association of Brtsh Chambers of Commerce. There was a large gathering representing commercial interests, who enthusiastically received him. Mr Massey discussed the possibility of greater development of trade and commerce within the Empire. He instanced the fact that nearly two-thirds of the British sugar supply came from Cuba and Java, while, out of 106 millions worth of cereals, only thirty-eight millions worth came from British possessions. He quoted similar examples in bacon, beef and cotton, and then gave details of New Zealand’s trade with Britain. He concluded by urging British trade interests to hear the whole problem of inter-imperial trade ever in their mind.

• HUGHES’S SOLUTION: OF IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT; LONDON, June 18. Mr W. M. Hughes (Australian Premier) interviewed by the “Daily Telegraph,” said: There was a good deal of talk recently about changes in Imperial relationship, and suggestions were made to establish an Imperial Council, arid eveli an Imperial Parliament: I .am radically opposed to both if they fire to ho endowed with authority to legislate or are to have executive authority to act for the whole Empire. The poetical difficulties are unsuperable, and such propsals would not be acceptable to the Dominions—at any rate, not to Australia. Those who make these sug-«* gestions do not seem to understand the principle on which the British Commonwealth of Nations rests, namely, com- o plete autonomy. Even at this moment there is uneasiness in the minds of some people in the Dominions lest their rights may be impaired. Yet, ■ along with their determination to govern themselves in their own way, there is a recognition of a necessity for unity. As regards matters that affect Empire problems, the need is to find means by which two apparently conflicting attitudes may be adjusted. It is clear that the Dominions never hav© a real voice in the settlement of Imperial matters, through being represented at London continuously by representatives of their own Governments. The only way is to bring the various Governments into daily touch with one another. When Downing Street can speak to Melbourne | and Ottawa and Wellington by teleI phone ,we shall have done something I to give every part of the Empire an I. equal opportunity of expressing its 1 opinions, which should he the authoritative opinions, not merely of the Governments, but of the Parliaments. I ffcl certain that a short time after the erection of a wireless chain throughout the Empire, the wireless telephone would permit of such discussion.

PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC. LONDON, June 18. Sir John Davidson, in the House of Commons, opened a discussion on the Imperial Conference. He emphasised the' need of fostering good relations between Britain and the Dominions, and of setting a good example to the world. The question of Imperial defence should be dealt with in the best way to secure concerted action, without infringing the principles of freedom and autonomy. Armaments competition had been already begun again, and if it were allowed to pass a certain point, it would inevitably result in war. Jt was absolutely essential that the whole Far Eastern question should be r ev iewed. Sir Samuel Hoare said that AngloAmerican friendship must be the basis for their world policy. The AngloJapanese question should be considered by the Imperial Prime Ministers from every viewpoint as publicly as possible. If the Alliance were renewed, it must he modified to meet the just demands of China, and as far as possible, the American objections. The racial question and disarmament would be far more effectually approached by holding a conference of all the Powers interested in the Pacific.

Sir John Reese hoped that the Indian representatives would havo an op- ... portunity for urging the freedom and status of Indians throughout the Empire.

j General Townsfiend said that he 1 would like to see the Dominions no l longer contributing money to the Bri- ! tish Fleet, but building their own [ fleets. If this were carried out, they \ would see an Australian Fleet policing j the Pacific and China Seas, a Canadian i Fleet policing the North Atlantic, an j Indian Fleet policing the Indian Ocean i and the Persian Gulf, leaving the Bri- ; tish Fleet in home waters, ready to I move to ajiy war theatre. ■ Commander Carlyon Bellairs questioned whether the Japanese Alliance ! had not helped the Militarists rather than the liberalising elements in Japan. The latter’s naval personnel, he said, was this year greater than the German personnel was in 1914, while Britain’s' personnel was reduced to 30,000. In such circumstances the people of this country should not agree to an alliance . with Japan. j Sir Kinloch Cooke said be hoped the principle of an Imperial Navy would be laid down at the Conference or a navy founded upon an. Imperial system, i They must also have an Imperial ! policy of migration within the Empire. 3lr Hunter Weston remarked that without an adequate. system of defence it would be impossible for the Empire

to exist. Mr A. Chamberlain made it clear that the responsible Minister who would be a member of the Imperial Conference must not pre-judge the decisions of the Conference. 'The Government would enter the conference without any cut and dried agenda If the Dominions desired, and could find time to discuss other questions they would find the British representatives willing. As to the question of defence, it was the Government’s desire to promote as far as possible the co-ordinatin of the military, naval and air forces of the Empire so as to enable them, where the consent of their respective authorities would be obtained to co-ordinate most quickly and effectively with he greatest prospect of success in war time. Any assistance which the Government could render would be cheerfully and gladly • Continuing, Mr Chamberlain said he thought it right to say in regard to the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, that the Government would be no party to an alliance against America, or one by which thev could be called upon to act against the United States; but he would” not say that any continuance of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance m a modified form was not possible. He did not believe that the treaty would rive rise to any real apprehension amongst the governing authorities m America, He entirely agreed that a new competition in armements between Britain and America would he not merely a tragedy to both countries but to civilisation. The House then adjourned