IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 18 February 1907, Page 3

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

QUESTION OF COLONIAL PARTICIPATION. ' INTERESTING DEBATE IN COMMONS. MR BALFOUII URGES VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. SVITH MILITARY ASSISTANCE AS REQUIRED. COLONIES ENTAIL NO EXTIIA NAYV.

Received 17th, 4.47 p.m. London, February 10. Mr Harold Cox, in tiie House oi Commons, moved that it in desirable that the Colonial Conference discuss the importance of the colonies moie fully participating in tlie cost of defending the Empire. Mr Balfour, Leader of tlu- Opposition, in tlie course of an interesting speech, said we ougnt no\. to treat the matter in a bargaining spirit. He did not believe the naval estimates would bo diminished one farthing if Britain lost the self-governng colonies. Uhle the colonies, through their Imperial connection, acquired great strength awl security, yet the connection also involved some dangers, owing to the Empire touching the world's politic* at many points, not directly concerning the colonies. It he said, impossible to seriously ask the colonies to vote money Which somebody else would spend. A moi'ej passible propfal wouUl bc to arrange a treaty under which the colonies would transfer their troops and Ships to the Imperial control in the event ol Imperial compbcations, thouga he earnestly deprecated even pressing that. While not abandoning the hope of closer political relations between the Motherland and the colonies, the ideal was not now in sight. The loose organisation of the Empire, continued Mr Balfour, had its advantages and disadvantages, but he was sure it was better to rely on voluntary assistance from tlie colonies, than to attempt to give it a rigid involuntary character. COLONIAL PATRIOTISM BEST FOR IHE EMPIKE.

Eeeeiied 17th, 5.4 p.m. jjoncton, February lb. Continuing, MI Balfotu: said:— We rrQt more pufc of colonial loyal voluntary and patriotic enthusiasm than from any hard and fasti organisation.' • REMARKS ENDORSED BY MR CHURCHILL. EMPIRE BASED OX HUMCII'LE 01 FAMILY. BRITAIN WILL MAKE NO DEMANDS. JJUT GLADLY ACCEPT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. ' Received 17th, 5.4 p.m. • London, February lb. • Mr Winston Churchill described 3lr Balfour's speech as one inspired by profound political wisdom. Thougli the services the Motherland and the colonies mutually rendered were very great, it would be wrong to draw insidious comparisons respecting contributioora. . . , The benefit of reciprocal interchange within the Empire, continued Mr Churchill, is no business proposition, but is based on the principle of a family, not a indicate. The Motherland declined to haggle over a bargain with ber children respecting the precise amount of military contribution, or commercial treaties. Without the colonics, lie said, wo would Btill be cojppeiled to maintain a fleet. While he deprecated any hard commercial bargain, he held that it jvas the colonies' duty to contribute as occasion arose to our common defensive needs. Mr Churchill concluded:—"We make no demand whatever. They give voluntarily and we accept gladly. We are content to wait a solid broadening of the harvest in future years." The amendment was withdrawn.

POLICY APPLAUDED BY THE PRKSS. Received 17th, 5.14 p.m. London, February 16. The Press, generally, applaud Mr Balfour's and Mr Churchill's policy of Imperial defence.