EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 159, 30 July 1909, Page 2

EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

CONFERENCE OPENS A MOMENTOUS OCCASLti. By Cable.—l'rcßß Association.—Copyright London, July 28. Mr. Asijuifh outlined the Government's proposal at the Defence Confertwo. The sitting* are strictly private.

Oiicra! Botha is unwell and unable to attend the early sittings of the conference. DELEGATES EXPRESS THAMvH. NAVAL AND MILITARY PLANS. Received July 26, 6.30 p.m. London, July 20, After Mr. Asquith's opening the Defence Conference delegates briefly replied in turn, expressing their thaukl for the cordiality of their reception. The coming debates concerning the coordination of naval and military plans will be largely in the hands of expert!. MOMENTOUS ISSUES.

ADVICE TO THE HOME GOVERNJIEXT. Received July 29, 0.30 pjn. London, July 2V. TJie Pall Mall Gazette says the Conference is fraught with important consequences to future inter-Imperial relations. The Conference had been quietly and unobtrusively organised. Its members were few, but the issues were momentous and beyond anything submitted to previous gatherings. The issues would embrace not only the question of defenco of the dominions, but, maybe, the maintenance of the tie binding t'i« i dependent states to the Motherland. Unless the subject were handled firmly, yet delicately and sympathetically, by the Home Government, there was a danger that the tie would fail to meet th» strain of the young, vigorous, and independent spirit seeking to work out Uw salvation of its native land, unfettered by the shackles of an unsympathetic bond of centralised government. It must not be sought, the paper adds, to impose restrictions upon local naval ani military organisation. There should be uniformity of training, but no dominating control from the centre. The touchstone of success would probably be found in an interchange of officers.

ENTHUSIASTIC INAUGURAL BANQUET. " THE BRITJtSH EMPIRE I OXE AND INDIVISIBLE." Received July 20, 11.18 pin. London, July 20. The Duke of Devonshire presided ovefr an enthusiastic inaugural banquet given iiv the British Empire Club at the Guildhull, in honor of the delegates to the Imperial Defence Conference. There were present 400 guests, including Lord* Crewe, Nortiicote, Strathcona, Kintore, Curzon, Brasscy, Onslow, Laniington, and Ueresforil, and the Premiers of Natal, Cape Colony, New Zealand, and a number of representative Australians. Mr. Haldane (Minister for War), in proposing 41 The Defence Conference," mentioned that the Prime Minister had given stringent injunctions to all members of the Conference to keep strict silence in regard to the proceedings of the Conference, but ho was able to say that the working out of the problems of defence was founded on the highest strategy and must be done by consultation between the Empire's sailors, soldiers, and statesmen. Only one maxim could be laid down on the question of defence, namely, " Tno British Empire! One and Indivisible." On that maxim the attention of the Conference would lie concentrated, Tliev recognised tUat the command of the seas must come in the first place. Then they must have nil anuv of long range, suited to deal with problems at long range. He gave the toast full of hope in the results ot tile Conference.

Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. L. P. liioiW'nr (Camilla), Colonel Foxton (Australia). ami tin- Hon. J. C. SinuU (South Africa) replied. TUB DKMUK OF THE COLONIES. TO TAKE THKIH SHARE OF THE BI'HDEN'S.

Received July 20, 11.40 p.ui. London, July 29. Sir Joseph Ward said they regarded the Conference as one of the greatest moment to nil portions of the Empire. The delegates entered it with open minds, for the purpose, in the first instance, of assisting in improving the naval defence. He emphasised tile desire wf the overseas dominions to take their share, of the burden of protecting the Empire. lie hoped for some system whiiji would make for the betterment of t4ie laud of which they all were so iproud to day. EMPIRE'S STRIKING POWER, ! AUSTRALIA'S READINESS TO ASSIST. Received 29, 11.40 p.m. London, July 21). Colonel l'oxton declared that the dele, gates were there to see what extent it was possible to strengthen the striking power of the Empire. Should necessity arise, Australia was prepared to contribute men, money and its resources to the very last, and to take is due share in maintaining the Empire's integrity and supremacy of the oceans of the world. He compared the Itaipire with a bundle of sticks. In order to secure the full strength of tha combination, they must be a straight stick. The great value of the Conference lay in welding together the various systems of different parts of the hnipire, that the whole strength could be wielded as one bundle of slicks. Australia had done what it could to inaugurate, maintain and develop a force on land sullicient to repel any attack, and also had done something to contribute towards the cost of the British ileet, but she also desired to be able lo provide something in the Bliape of nn Australian Xavy, perhaps small at (he outset, which should become aa litlegral | nu t mil of the naval armament "f the Empire. Australia in 23 years " ""Id have something to offer for the defence of the Empire which would be worth consideration. Tin 1 idea of separation and the overseas dominions establishing their own navies was absolutely unthinkable. Australia wa» heart anil soul with the Empire through tliiek and thin.

SIR JOSEPH W'AHD UAXQUKTfED. « NECESSITY FOR A DEFINITE SCHEME. , SOLIDIFYING THE EMPIRE. l.y Telegraph.- Prcw Association. Wellington, Last Xighl. Sir Joseph Ward was the guest of tll'i liiitish Empire Club at a lKUit|iict ut London on Wednesday night. Responding to the toast of '• The Dtfi ne., t'onferenee," proposed by .Mr. Halil'jne (Minister fur War), Sir Joseph Ward emphasised (lie imperative necessity of the C .inference arriving at a definite scheme, nn.l not (Hissing resolutions that may only be left for a record and not acted oil, lit would lie suicidal not to recognise tliat the evolution which is going on in the other countries calls for markedly forward movements on the part of the old Motherland in ciHipcrnliim with her dominions beyond the seas, *' Tin- old policy," he said, " which up to now has been sufficient to meet Die protective conditions of tint Empire. is not now sufficient, and 1 feel c.-nliileat that British statesmen, in cooperation with those of the colonies, will at the conference evolve a scheme, though necessarily one of a flexible nature, to meet local circnnistaneD*, aad the scheme will lie one foi' suiujtiieniiig the navy and, conse.|ueafc!y, enhancing the solidarity of the Empire."