EMPIRE'S FUTURE TRAFALGAR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 343, 19 March 1910, Page 5

EMPIRE'S FUTURE TRAFALGAR

i*» WHERE THE COLONTAL 'WARSHIt'S WOULD BE. THE NEED FOR SELF-RELIANCE. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Received March 18, 10.20 p.m. London, March 18. At the Anglo-Saxons' Club dinner, Sir Gilbert Parker presiding, Sir George Reid (High Commissioner of Australia), responding to the toast of the club's guest, said that whatever the terms controlling the relation of the Austra lian Navy, or the navies of the other dominions, to the British Navy, the ships) must be ready to findi themselves near the Empire's future Trafalgar, as far as possible. He knew that was where the Australians' ships would be. He had no fear for Britain while the people showed their ancestors' attributes. He added it was unwise to depend upon a branch of the Anglo-Saxon race not in the Empire or a home ally or a friend, with whom Britain had an understanding. Understandings were very good things, and should be cultivated, but they wanted something behind them. He did know what an understanding could be worth, considering even a treaty is worth little or nothing in an emergency. Struggles between nations, in one form or another, were inevitable. Tfiere was greater danger to us, perhaps, in the laboratories of foreign countries than in their dockyards.