The Pacific Fleets

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 23 April 1914, Page 5

The Pacific Fleets

THE DOMINIONS AND THE ADMIRALTY.

THE CORRESPONDENCE PUBLISHED.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, April 21.

A Blue Book has been published containing correspondence between Mr. ilarcourt and the Australasian Governinents to April 1. The Commonwealth in August enquired regarding the non-provision of the China and East Indies units in pursuance of the 1909 arrangement, and asked whether circumstances had arisen which necessitated alteration. The Governments offered, if necessary, to attend a conference. Mr. Harcourt forwarded the Admiralty's reply concerning the carrying out of the 1909 arrangement, and intimated that if the Commonwealth desired to confer with the Imperial Government it would welcome representatives in 1914. He also invited New Zealand to consider participaton. The Commonwealth replied in March that owing to the early meeting of Parliament it was impossible to send a Minister to London in 1914, but suggested a full' conference, including representatives of all the self-governing dominions.

Mr. Harcourt repied that in the circumstances the question of a defence conference must be postponed.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Hall, M.P. for Dulwieh, asked whether Japan's obligations to protect British interests in the Pacific had undergone alteration since the last agreement with the Australasian Governments regarding the naval strength to be maintained by Britain in Australasian waters.

Mr. Acland replied that there had been no alteration.

AUSTRALIAN VIEWS. "WISDOM" REPLACED BY DISTRUST.

Sydney, April 22. The Herald, in a leader on defence, says it is satisfactory to Australians to find that New Zealand now Btands side 'by side with them in regard to the whole problem. Recent statements by Messrs Massey and Allen make it abundantly clear that the profound wisdom to which Mr. Churchill referred in his speech has been replaced by profound distrust of the efficiency of the policy previously favored in Australia and New Zealand, but now abandoned equally definitely by both countries. Mr. Cook, referring to the Standard's statement regarding the defence of the Pacific, says there are divergencies other than those already made public. He knew no fresh view had ween expressed by New Zealand or Australia. There was nothing fresh in the whole situation, beyond Mr. Churchill's speech the other dav.

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION.

EXPLAINED BY DEFENCE MINISTER

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Wellington, Wednesday. The Hon. James Allen, referring to the Standard's comments, stilted in an interview with a Post representative that the Standard had no authority for making the statement that New Zealand had insisted there was no necessity for its being represented in the Committee of Imperial Defence, unless there was full co-operation between themselves and the Mother Country in the Pacific. His experience was that the committee was thoroughly sympathetic with New Zealand. The Admiralty might not be altogether sympathetic, but the committee was. Our safety, lie added, is with the Committee of Imperial Defence. As far as the Admiralty is concerned, though they may differ from us in opinion, as soon as any difference of opinion is settled, they have been sympathetic. The points of difference, as far as I know, are quite loeal to New Zealand and New Zealand aspirations. I look upon the Committee of Imperial Defence as the first step in the evolutionary process towards more complete representation of the dominions. In my opinion we can only go step by step. It is perfectly true that the agreement of 1910 has been abandoned by the Mother Country, and I think very improperly abandoned, without luivinf; represented the matter to both Australia and New Zealand before acting. Unquestionably the time has come, or is just about to come, when the whole matter must J>c threshed out as between the dominions and the Mother Country, and the dominions must be placed in the position in which they can rel i upon agreements that have been entered into. The conference is the plscc to thresh tliTs out, and T hope the conference will take place.

Mr. Allen en id lie agreed with the Standard that Australia and New Zealand took th(> view that Imperialism was above pajtv politics, and that the time must cone when there would be something more than British Cabinet control.

SIR .JOSEPH WARD.

Wellington. Last Night.

To a pressman to-dav, Sir Joseph Ward, who h;ul just returned from a visit to .Sydney, speaking on naval matters. ssiill: "It is a mistake to suppose that the idea of a local navv meets with general approval in New South Wales. There is divided opinion amongst a large section of the community upon this point, and at least two of the important New South Wales daily (papers are strongly adverse to the local navy system. Naturally. T avoided discussing the matter, excepting to give a reply by invitation to some observations made by Mr. Allen, Minister of Defence, at Milton. and published in Cli» Sydney Daily Telegraph. The more T discuss the matter with well-informed men. the more 1 am convinced that the course that has been taken by the present Government is an unwise one."