A FOOL’S PARADISE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1042, 11 May 1912, Page 4

A FOOL’S PARADISE.

AUSTR/A..!A’S PERIL. The following letter has been written by an influential public man in England to a correspou- ■!.[ J -.’.icy “The eyes ot a good many Englishmen have been turned recently towards Australia, because the international situation has been so complicated, and those of us who study the security of the Empire feel that Australia, by tier geographical position, is the weak spot. “We have been watching events in China with no small degree of anxiety, for anything that takes place there must affect directly or indirectly the prospects ot our kinsmen in Australia. “Euckily we are too far off to be excited very much one way or the other with the internal politics of Australia, and therefore what we think and what we say apply to Australia as a whole, and to no party in it. “It is yet too early to see what is going to be the outcome of affairs in the Far East, but your future and the future the Empire is going to be decided, not iu the Pacific Ocean, but in the North Sea; and I should like to write to you about the European situation, because on that everything depends. “East summer we were on the verge of war with Germany, aud war was only prevented by the very strong and stern attitude which Great Britain took up. The German Government blundered very badly, and in order to cover their blunders they have been giving tbeir own people a false impression.

“I think most Germans to-day, if you asked them what they thought of the situation last summer, would tell you that Germany succeeded in her main objects, aud that England’s attitude had been one of aggression towards Germany. “The truth is that Germany did not get what she wanted, for the simple reason that Great Britain stood by France, and Germany was obliged to change the whole of her demands. The result, however, is not altogether satisfactory.

“The German Centre aud Right have been fed up with stories of cur tyranny, and there is a strong feeling there that Germany ought to do her utmost to increase her fleet aud army in order to be a match tor us. “All this is of intense interest to Australia. She is as much, aud even more, interested in England’s supremacy in the North Sea than any other of the oversea States. Canada is safe. South Alrica is practically impregnable owing to the character of its inhabitants and the conformation of the country. But Australia has this disadvantage, that her population is congregated round the coast, where she is always more or less vulnerable.

“I can imagine Australians objecting to this theory oi danger by saying that unless .England were absolutely overwhelmed Germany could never take Australia. No, but Germany would probably not attempt it. In the event of such a debacle where England’s strength was gone, do you believe that the Japanese agreement would be kept by the Japanese ? Do you not see that England’s disaster will be Japan’s opportunity, and before you could say ‘Jack Robinson’ you would have the whole of the Northern Territory practically occupied by Japanese ?

“The moral of all this is that Australia has got to go in for a large immigration policy on the very broadest lines, and unless she does so she will be subject to alarms and excursions to the end of lime. Have you ever considered what might possibly happen it England were even victorious in the next war with Germany—i.e., if England were able to blockade Germany in her ports ?

“in such a case the war would go on perhaps tor a year, and our fleet would be tied to the North Sea for all time. That would be the opportunity for all those who covet Australia, and the yellow man would not be backward in taking advantage of it. “In ract, whenever you look at the position of Australia from an impartial point of view as far as international politics are concerned, you cannot fail to be struck by the fact that the Australians are living in a lool’s paiauise until such time as they have a population of ten millions. Then, and not till then, will be tree from any complications here, and be able to feel sure of security.

“I have seen the Australian trooper in the field in the Boer war, and I have the very highest admiration tor his courage, his

activity and his wonderful power of recovery, and I am perfectly certain that whatever nation sets foot in Australia will have a very bard task indeed and will probably never be able to silbdue it; but the vulnerability of Australia lies in the fact that all its big towns are on me sea, and that once the-e are occupied or destroyed an invading force can practically starve out those who are lighting in the interior.

“There is one more consideration that your friends have got to take into account. It looks very much as though the Tariff Reform party here are going to win, and it may be that in less than a year a Tariff Reform Budget will be introduced. In that case it is the opinion of men who have studied the question that there will be a tremendous increase of employment here, and there will be less opportunity for emigration.

“Canada has foreseen this, and one or her leading emigration agents told me the other day that their whole policy is built on a plan of taking advantage of the present free trade system to get hold of all the bast men who at present cannot find work to do ; but they acknowledge that when Tariff Reform comes in the emigration returns will fall by 25 to 50 per cent. “Australia, I am afraid, has lost her opportunity, but she might yet, by giving inducements aud by studying the question scientifically get sufficient immigrants to people her empty spaces and make her one of the most formidable nations in the world. But this can only be achieved if things are done without delay and thoroughly.’’