IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 457, 6 May 1909, Page 3

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

London, May 4. In the House of Commons, Premier Asquith informed Mr J. B. Lonsdale that steps would be taken to ascertain the views of the self-governing dominions relating to the proposed conference (to be held about July) to discuss the naval and military defence of the Empire, with special reference to the proposals received from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. •The Times heartily congratulates Mr Asquith on the proposed conference, inasmuch as it has become increasingly clear, as the mails have brought fuller accounts of the movement in the public feeling in the dominions, that while parties and sections are eager to assume some greater share in the responsibilities of naval defence, there is considerable doubt and disagreement concerning the manner and share each can best assume. The Daily Graphic describes Mr Asquith’s announcement as most gratifying, and declares that what is needed is a definite understanding between the self-govern-ing colonies and the Motherland regarding their respective parts in the common duty of defending the Empire. The Graphic adds: “ Britain’s dominions will certainly prefer to spend their own money in their own way, but there is no reason why respective fields of expenditure should not be marked out by an agreement, so as to secure a maximum benefit to the Empire as a whole.”