Defending the Pacific.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 81, 26 March 1914, Page 5

Defending the Pacific.

THE JAPANESE TREATY.

AMD A WHITE AUSTRALIA,

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright]

[ID uted Press association.] (Received 11.55 a.m.)

Melbourne. March 26

Mr Cook, at a banquet at ‘Wangaiatta, referring to reliance upon the Japanese treaty for the peace of the Pacific, said that under the treaty there were obligations with a nation whose people might not be admitted to Australia’s shores. They must at all costs defend the White Australia policy. He believed the time was ripe for the development of naval defence. He would like to see Canada and South Africa round the conference table as well as Australia and New Zealand. The latter had so far kept to the idea of contributing to the strength of the Imperial Navy. On the other hand, Australia had begun to develop her own navy. He hoped Mr Massey’s latest speech was indicative of the feeling of New Zealand and that they would soon be able to welcome the Dominion in a naval compact.