PACIFIC DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 3, 4 June 1913, Page 5

PACIFIC DEFENCE

NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSIBILITIES

MR. ALLEN'S VIEWS,

Per Press. Association.

Auckland, Ijast Night. The Hon. James Allen returned by the Makura, '* looking, exceedingly well. Interviewed, Mr. Allen was cheerful and optimistic, remarking, in reply to a query, that his financial mission had been eminently successful, and that he returned with definite proposals to place before his colleagues. Regarding the naval question the Minister said to his interviewer: "I should like to take the public into my confidence, but it is essential that the Prime Minister and my fellow members of the Cabinet should be first acquainted with them. Whatever our naval policy is to hp must remain with the Cabinet to say. I i;.ii say this, though, respecting the na , ..l programme: It is quite clear that whatever course is decided upon there need be no fear that any Now Zealand quota to the navy will be \>ut under Australian control.'' Asked if there would be one fleet in Australasian waters, Mr. Allen replied: "I am Sorry on this point that I cannot •say anything. The policy must be decided by the Cabinet. But I can assure you that if anything is done in this direction, our quota will be under New Zealand control in such case, though it might,' of course, be used in conjunction with the Australian fleet in the event ofa fleet mobilisation. I . have come back with a definite proposal absolutely, as the result ,of a consultation with the British Admiralty and the Committee of Imperial Defence. Of course, it is really a Committee of Imperial Defence. I have always said, and I say it again, that there is a necessity for combined action in the Pacific between Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I have always said .that. I have never altered my opinion. The same opinion I gathered on my journey through Canada is held by a great many Canadians. New Zealand's danger is not from Europe. In that sense no European fleet is likely to take the sea for this distant objective, but there are Powers that could get here without having to deal first with Great Britain. Britain's fleet is not big enough to split up into two places at one time. That is a problem which faces us, and which Australia is facing. So far wfl have not done so."

Questioned oh the subject of the Imperial Defence Committee, as to whether New Zealand would be represented, Mr. Allen replied: "If you ask me if New Zealand was represented on the Imperial Defence Committee, I say 'No; not directly,' but I attended, and the Committee asked me the question. I told them I would suggest certain things to the Cabinet. The suggestions were considered quite satisfactory; and that, I am afraid, is all I can tell you just, now." "What about your mosquito fleet proposal for New Zealand?" suggested the pressman,

"The mosquito fleet proposal for New Zealand!" exclaimed the Minister in surprise. "I have never said that New' Zealand must have a mosquito fleet. I have talked about a mosquito fleet and the purposes of such a fleet, hut I assure you I have not said to anybody in Canada or elsewhere that we mMt have a mosquito fleet."

Upon being informed that the Canadian Senate had rejected the proposal to build three Dreadnoughts and place them under the control of the British Admiralty, Mr, Allen agreed that it was a difficult situation that faced the Canadian Government. <f lf Mr. Borden pan accomplish his object of getting a redistribution pf seats," lie said, "that will certainly give him a majority in the Western States. That is a good policy • for him, ant} one that I can well understand, for it nilist mean that Quebec and the East generally will lose seats. Mr. Borden got. lrifo/ power by making an .alliance with tlie Nationalists, who were opposed la Sir' Wilfrid Lanrier's policy, and were generally disgusted with Sir Wilfrid Laurief limiself; partly over the old fleet arrangement. Thcv were not at one with Mr. Burden over the fleet question, but the alliftyioe f was based principally on the reciprocity policy. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his party'are naturally smarting under what they consider to be the disaffection of their own followers, and ever sinoe their policy has been to bring about a dissolution and go back to the country. ,They are, in short, willing to sacrifice ahnost, everything to gain their purpose,.'eyeii,.to,.the point of Empire disintegration." ' Speaking .of Mr. Churchill's touring fleet .proposals, the Minister remarked tha' ,'/e not see what material ser <fiyh'a policy would afford to tliiS par" ,pf. the world. Of course, from Canatj'a.'s' point of view, he added, it would,be a capital idea for them to support a ( spadron either for the MediterSea. Such a squadron wouhl lie right enough for Atlantic purposes, apd iv defence for the eastern sl-.'ores ,'of .Canada, but as far as the Pacific" j W^, ( 9pncerned, lie added, "I do not think U4 would be of any material value.'' Sijcli a fleet wojild undoubtedly I> e - kind of value that "we, wi\nt.''

FORCE. J»ave > - .been •, talking a lot| of,,rubbish:.about 'this expeditionary gaid .sr.. Alien; "All I pro--Wfrir? Wl • of. being -ready with wiir equipment, and transport arr(i^fpiypß. [qij " 111 e. sending of an exif .the--time ever came when; sUoli'a %orce was. needed. But so far '?i ; .^ le /Wp.onj)el of such a force is eonberped,, J "have; always said that it was absolutely,and unmistakably ncces-sary-tbit Bilch- a force must be an en-tirqly-vfaluh't'ary one. There is nothing ne\V about the expeditionary force idea. I tjillt'ed about it myself for some time befofe!'F feft for Home. In fact, it has beejn- faTked. about for at least two or three-years. All it means is that we do [not want to bp caught in the unprepared- State in which we were caught 011 the occasion of the Boer.war, when New Zealand was So'i'eady to respond to the appeal of our brothers oversea. When that appeal ca>vip, we had plenty of men eager to: go', hat nothing arranged in the, matter of equipment or transport. There was' no knowledge of what the requirements would be for horse artillory or foot, Jn fact, tlmre was no sort of organisation beforehand to meet all (he. necessities of such a situation. If the. calj comes at a moment's notice, it is of ilittlc vnhia to have men if we have not got all the necessary details arranged winch are so necessary'for eflVc--tive operation at a moment's- notice. Can anyone o'nect to such an obviously sensible proposilion? -There was never any question about a New Zealand expeditionary force other than voluntary.".