Imperial Defence.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 95, 15 April 1914, Page 5

Imperial Defence.

NAVAL POLICY QUESTION* NEWSPAPER COMMENT. [Bt Electric Telegraph—CoptbightJ [United Press Association, j (Received 9.5 a.m.) London, April 14. The Pall Mall Gazette states:— i “Senator Millen foreshadows the Naval policy going further in the direction of particularism than it does now. It is impossible to conceive a more unfortunate result of Mr Churchill’s tactless speech, although it is to be hoped the international relationships governing the situation in the Pacfie will endure. We cannot ask Australia, New Zealand, and Canada’s co-operation in a, policy leaving them to the mercy of an incident. If the Empire possessed a free margin of naval force, it would bo easy for strategists to usefully distribute it.” The Times considers Mr Churchill’s statement scarcely justifies Mr Milieu’s heat and indignation. There was nothing in Mr Churchill’s attitude to give offence. At the same time, a strong feeling exists in Australia and New Zealand that Great Britain is not making adequate provision for the defence of the Pacific, and the obvious gravity of the situation makes it difficult to understand the chilling reception accorded to Australia’s request for a conference.