IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 87, 8 May 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE JULY CONFKUKNCE.

SPEECH BY EARL CREWE.

FINK, SUILSTIRRI|NG OFFERS."

Received 7, 10.35 p.m. I Loadou, May 7. a Earl Crewe, Secretarv for the Co'.o- i| nie,, speaking at the Libera! Colonial -1 Club, and referring to the July confer- | Mice, said lie was not prepared to «ay -S that the time was absolutely ripe for a >j full and complete discussion on tho "t whole question of Imperial defence, j They could, for instance, hardly expect 1 South Africa tu speak with certainty on % the subject until the union of South | Africa wns accomplished. On the other j hand, there had been so many iacid- 1 cuts of importance—the tine, soul-stir- J ring olfcni of New Zealand and Austra- 4 lia, and the not less' hearty movements tj towards the improvement of Imperial I defence in Canada—entirely justified 'i them in endeavoring to arrive at some, j at any rate, provisional conclusions, af- I ter talking t'/J matter over in a friend- I ly way. . J A COMMON ORGANISATION. 1 A NONPARTY QUESTION. J Received 7, 11.45 p.m. : London, May 7> , -\ Earl Crewe, continuing, said his view J was that the sooner they could ap*,j proaeh towards a common organisation '| of defence the better it would be for the Empire. Such things as an Imperial J General Staff and a certain asßimilatloa £ —he would not say identity—of organ- M isntion, for the purports of defence he* J tween the systems of the Motherland 1 and the dominions were all steps in tilt u right direction, ,but local elasticity 3 would not be less necessary. "w» 4 could not do anything more unwise | than to attempt to impose upon the J great self-governing colonies a scheme« which was unpalatable to them, fil ™ a sense, each dominion must work out its defence iu ite own way." He * was glad to know that the Govern- \ ment'fi action had the approval of both i sides of polities, because this was certainly a matter wherein they BhoukH i desire lie. country to act as one. , The statement was received wltfc>J eheers. i

The Chronicle, referring to the con-i fcrence, declares the idea of iederatio«| in defence, agreeing with the political conditions of the dominions and tJMM Motherland, appealed ,-to sentimettM throughout the Empire. ,| CANADA'S RERRESENTATIOSF. J Ottawa, May ft, i Canada has nominated the Hon. St I F. W. Borden (Minister of Defence) andi the Hon, I. P. Brodeur (Minister <S Marine) to attend the July Imperliy Naval Conference In London, ' ■• ;|