LORD JELLICOE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 6

LORD JELLICOE.

HIS MISSION OUTLINED. DOMINION'S ASSISTANCE WANTED. Wellington, Aug.ist 21. Members of the Government entertained at luncheon at Bellamy's to-day Aimiral Lord Jeliieoc and the officer.of his staff and of the ship's company of the New Zealand. Mr Massey, in proposing the toast of the Navy, said that Lord Jelliece's visit was an indication that the Imperial authorities recognised the necessity for adequate naval protection in -:istralia and New Zealand. The subject of naval defence had for years been contemplated with intense anxiety. He agreed with ihe opinion expressed by many that from the point of view of the 'British Empire the Pacific would be the storm centre of the future. If we failed to i profit- by '.he lessons of the war, then we should leserve anything that might happen to us. The citizens of New i'caland owed a deep debt of gratitude to the British Navy for the protection given during the years of the war. Our existence would always depend on naval supremacy Lord Jellicoe, after referring to the gift of thii battle cruiser New Zealand and the pos lion of naval matters who, 'ho war broke out, said he could well /"member that in the early days of unrestricted submarine campaigning by i>u Germans, f.ow Mr Massey had drawn his attention to the loss of the fine New Zealand ship Rotorua, and he had to assure Mr Massey, as he had to tell ower people at the time, he had not the destroyers to send to protect these vessels. The only thing that enabled the Admiralty to adopt the convoy system had been the assistance of the American Navy in giving their whole destroyer forces. One lesson to be learned was (o be prepared. He hoped the League of Nations would be able to reduce the chances of war, but the British Navy was the only safeguard of Britain and the Empire, and he hoped it would not la reduced. The burden had become too great for the Mother Country to shoulder by herself, and he felt that the mission on which he was at present engaged, was of very real importance. He hoped it might be possible to produce a ifheme which would, be favorably considered by ihe great overseas Dominions, and that, as the result, assistance would be forthcoming from these Do minions, so that these dependencies ivonld not nave to depend entirely on ihe British Navy for security. He felt the problem out hero from the shores of Africa to the shores of America was .me _ probbin, and all portions of the British Empire within those boundaries were alike interested in the security of sea communications. lie hoped they would be able to devise a. scheme which would not. only affect the Dominions, lv.it also the Mother. Country—ii scheme which, if adopted, would bring more adequate security for the sea commumcatons of thr Empire in these waters.