"Turn Up the Light"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1914, Page 5

"Turn Up the Light"

DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC.

NEED FOR A CONFERENCE.

j [By EiiEOTRio Telegraph—-Copyright.; j [United Press Association.] (Received 9.-15 a.m.) Sydney, March 12. The Herald, in' a leader, says: "If the forecast be true that the Canadian navy question cannot be settled by the Government for several years, then the naval conference, which Australia, and New Zealand desire to have with the British Government cannot be postponed any longer, and should take place immediately. The Home Rule crisis has ceased to claim the attention of Ministers in Canada, and they are at liberty to take time over the decision, but Australia and New Zealand cannot consent to continue another three or four years and be totally in the dark as to what is the Imperial policy in the Pacific, it lias been assumed that we blame Britain for abandoning the 1909 agreement, but owing to recent amendments in our Navy law and the altering of the situation in the North Sea, no one , blames the Mother Country for abandoning that plan. The Pacific fleet will meet urgent needs in Home waters, but the Australian fleet and New Zealand's cruiser were built in the light of the 1909 agreement. After committing ourselves to the building of a fleet, the light was taken away, but we want it turned up again. If it stands for anything, it is for the conviction of Australians and New Zealanders that the British Pacific Fleet will be necessary in the near future. It is their duty to lay the foundations of that fleet, but obviously they do not wish to provide the nucleus in the dark.