IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 208, 7 October 1909, Page 1

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

; INTEKETIXd CDIiIiKSPOXIJKXCE. LETTER TO Mil. MckKNXA. XEW ZEALAND'S MAUIiIMF. IXTEItESTS. WAu.suii's for (in: own watkks. As showing tli,. position |„ conrrcLc form, and for the information of Hie people cif New Zealand, wli: ccs.sa.ril,were concerned in \vli ;l t had been done by liiiii as t-in-ir r«'|.n-.s,n| ; itiv<- in tliis important mutter, Kir Joseph Ward has liamlcil for |)iilili<'iiti(in ii copv of K letter addressed l.y l,i m ,„ ui,. First Lord of file Admirallv, tile Kight Hon Mr. Jk-Kciina, togciher with hisreplv;'•OIHcc of Die Prim,' Minister of New Zealand, Hotel Cecil, London. Aii'MXt Htli, 1(100. Dear Mr. AlcKe'nna-A' to-day's meeting yon explaineil that the general idea underlying the Adiniraltj i inemoriindum was that the present East l Indies, China, and Australian squadrons should he treated strategically as one Far Eastern, or, as you thought a preferable term, Pacific, station, jind that each, uf the principal portions of thU station should have a complete licet unit, the Commonwealth tlovernnient maintaining lone unit in Australian waters in lieu of the present Australian squadron, and the Imperial Government providing the remainder, the Dreadnought cruiser presented by Xew Zealand forming the flagship of the China unit. If Canada found herself able also to come into this agreement, her contribution to the Pacific Station would be a fourth unit. I think it will conduce to clearness if J. state my views in writing, hence this memorandum. I expressed myself as generally siUMlod with this arrangement as a strategic plan, but I would point out that if as I understand, Australia is providb"' an independent unit, it means the superseding of the present British-Australian squadron, and the fact of that bciii" done would, on its completion, deter" mine the naval agreement with Australia and Xew Zealand, thus creating an entirely new position. I favor one great Jlinperia! navy, with all the oversea dominions contributing either in ships or money, and with-naval stations at the self-governing dominions supplied' with ships by and under (lie control oil he Admiralty. I, however, realise the

iilla-uitics. anil recognise that Australh and Canada in this important matte: are doing thai which their respective liovcriiuienls'consider to be'best; but tin

fact remains tlmt the alteration thai will lie brought about upon tiio establishment of an Australian unit will alter the present position witli New Zealand. Xew Zealand's maritime interests in her own waters and her dependent islands in the Pacific would, under the altered arrangement, he almost entirely represented by the Australian llect unit, and not, as at present, by the Imperial fleet, this important fart, J Consider, necessitates some suitable provision tang made for Xew Zealand, which country has the most friendly feeling in every respect for Australia and its people, anil 1 am anxious that in the initiation of new arrangements with the Imperial Government under the altered conditions the interests of Xew Zealand will not be overlooked. 1 consider it my duty to point this out, and to have the direct connection between Xew Zealand and the Royal Xavy maintained in s'omo concrete form. Xew ~ealand Till supply a Dreadnought for the liritish navy, as already offered, the ship to be under the control of and stationed wherever the Admiralty considers it advisable. 1 fully realise that the creation of Pacific units—one in the Ei\>[, one in Australia, and, if possible, one in Canadawould be a great improvement from the •xisting condition of affairs, and the fact that the Xew Zealand Dreadnought is to lie the flagship of the Cliina-Parilii unit is. in mv opinion, satisfactory. I. however, consider it is advisable that a portion of the China-Pacific unit should remain in Xew Zealand waters, and I would suggest that two of the new ISristol cruisers, together with three dastrovers and two submarines, should be detached from the China station in time f peace, and stationed in Xew Zealand waters; that these vesels should come 'inder the (lag of the Admiral of the China unit; that the llagship should make periodical visits to Xew Zealand waters; and that there should be an inlercliangc in the service of the cruisers between Xew Zealand anil China, under conditions to be laid down. Tin ships should be manned as far as possible with Xew Zealand oll'iccrs and met and in order that Xew Zealanders might be attracted to serve in the fleet, local rates should be paid to those Xew Zealanders who enter in the same manner as under the present Australian and Xew Zealand agreement, such loc-J rales being treated as deferred pay. t'he determination of the agreement' with Australia has of necessity brought up the position of Xew Zealand under that joint agreement. 1 therefore suggest that on the completion of the China unit the present agreement with Xew Zealand should cease; that its contribution of €IOO,OOO per annum should continue, and be used to pay the difference in the rates of pay to Xew Zealanders above what would be paid under ordinary rate. ]f the contribution for the advanced rate of pay did not amount to .000,000 per annum, any balance to be at the disposal of the Admiralty; the whole of this fleet unit to be taken in hand and completed b» lore the end of 1012, and 1 should be glad if the squadron as a whole would then visit Xew Zealand on the way to China, leaving the Xew Zealand detachment there under its senior oll'iccrs.—l remain, yours sincerely, "J. G. WARD." REPLY FROM THE FIRST LORD. SI'GGEKTIOXS AGREED TO.

. SiXCKKK THANKS TO NEW ZEALAND. '• Admiralty, Whitehall, August 18th, lflOU. Dear Sir Joseph,—The siiggcs'lions made by you at the meeting on the 11 111 instant, and recited by you in your letter to me of Hie same date, have been carefully considered and concurred in liy the Admiralty. The present navai agreement with Australia and New Zealand will not be renewed, and in view of this fact and the other special circumstances referred to by you the part of the China fleet, as set out by you, will he maintained in New Zealand as their headquarters. Your wish that the ships of the licet as ji whole, or at any rate the armored s'hips anil the cruisers, when completed, should pay a visit to New Zealand on the way to' China shall also he carried out. I take this opportunity on behalf of the Admiralty of repeating their sincere thanks to the New Zealand Government" for taking so important a part in tlie inception of the present Conference. The Admiralty feel that every effort should •lie made to work out a scheme acceptable to the people of New Zealand, having regard to the patriotic- action taken by yourself and your Ministers in March last.—l remain, vour.s sincerclv. REGINALD McKENXA."