DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 8

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

CANADA’S POSITION EX-POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DECLARATION. By Telegraph— Press Association—Copj-rieht OTTAWA, February 13. Mr Lemieux concluded his speech in the naval debate, in the House of Commons, on the proposal to present three battleships to the Imperial Navy, by declaring that Canada did not want a voice in the decision of peace or war for the Empire. In commenting on preferential trade, he was called to order for asserting that jingoistic loyalty on both sides of the Atlantic proceeded from the stomach and not from the heart.ALLEGATIONS AGAINST RADICALS. “DEPLORABLE INTRIGUES” RE- ' GRETTED. LONDON, February 13. i Mr Feilding, Canadian ex-Minister of Finance, who came to England after the introduction of Mr Borden’s Naval Bill, denies organising opposition thereto, although he admits that he had repeated conferences with the Radicals. The “Daily Telegraph” declares that a considerable body of Radicals is lobbying in the House of Commons in the hope of embarrassing the Canadian Government. The paper adds that not content with subterranean methods, they have interviewed Mr Asquith and Mr Churchill with’ the object of prevailing on them to alter their attitude towards Canada’s proposals. The “Daily Telegraph” deprecates the slightest suggestion of interference with overseas affairs, and says it is deplorable, at a moment of Imperial awakening, that such intrigues should exist. SOUTH AFRICA SIR RICHARD SOLOMON’S RE- . MARKS. CAPETOWN, February 12. Speaking in the Union Parliament, Sir Thomas Smartt, Leader of the Opposition, and Mr T. Cresswell endorsed what General Botha had said regarding Sir R. Solomon’s remarks. Tho Prime Minister. General Botha, stated that the recent statement by Sir Richard Solomon, High Commissioner for South Africa, that he hoped the visit of the New Zealand battle-cruiser to Capetown would stimulate the growing feeling for naval co-operation in South Africa, was pn-t-ly personal, and could in nowise be construed as the opinion of the Government. SUBSIDIARY CONFERENCE REPLY TO ’THE COMMONWEALTH’S REQUEST. LONDON, February 12. Mr Herbert Samuel, PostmasterGeneral, announced in the House of Commons that the Government’s reply to the Commonwealth’s request for a subsidiary Naval Conference had been dispatched last week.