The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1920. NAVAL POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1920. NAVAL POLICY.

One of the important matters that must occupy Parliament early in the coming session is the consideration of Lord Jellicoe's report and suggestions as to the naval policy of the Dominions in the future. Although the question of reduction of armaments admits of cogent arguments from several points of view, it is generally admitted by all unbiased people in the Enpire that under no circumstances must Britain part with jiaval supremacy. This is not, a jingoistic view, but an inflexible IaAV necessary for the safety and welfare of the wide-flung commonwealth of countries under the BriItish flag, and for the security of commerce on which they all defend. Even though there may,

never again be such a war as that which has recently closed, yet the lessons derived therefrom are such as those who run can read and take to heart. So far as the Empire is concerned, its security will, in future, mainly depend on the Imperial Navy and the Air Force, coupled with the Mercantile Marine, and it is by unifying these factors, together with the institution of a satisfactory and adequate scheme sufficient for all purposes, that a solution of the problem will be found. Lord Jelli'eoe's proposals may possibly be considered to err on the side of over expenditure. If so, there will be no difficulty in bringing them within the amount that each of the Dominions should fairly be asked to contribute by way of capital expenditure and annual maintenance, always bearing in mind that economy is not to be considered before efficiency. At present, New Zealand has contributed a battle cruiser, and, latterly, £IOO,OOO a year—an amount absurdly small when viewed from the standpoint of insurance of our produce and the protection of the country. The present prosperity of the Dominion has been made possible by reason only of the services of the Eoyal Navy and Mercantile Marine. We are in duty bound to give practical recognition of the great value of those services, in the only way possible, namely, by contributing a fitting amount towards maintaining the supremacy of the Navy. At the recent meeting of the Wellington branch of the Navy League a report was presented embodying the League's future policy under the new conditions with which it is confronted. It is noteworthy that in outlining this policy the headquarters committee in London was solely guided by the consideration that the league's first duty, in common with any other patriotic organisation, was to render the greatest service of which it was capable to the country, at whatever sacrifice. The wording of this portion of the memorandum may well be quoted: "Obviously there could be no better way of performing this duty tlmti by taking the traditional spirit of sacrifice and service of the Royal Navy and Mercantile* Marine as an example and attempting to follow it. The more widely the history, spirit, customs and traditions of its sea services were known and followed, the greater would be the memorial set up to those who had in all ages given their lives in founding and upholding those traditions."

This is the spirit in which the Government and Parliament should approach the consideration of the Dominion's naval policy. It has to be remembered that the Navy is not only our chief security, "but is the main visible Imperial link. The, strength of that link was strikingly evident by the surrender of the German fleet. Moreover it stands for the freedom of the seas and the peace of the world. Britain cannot afford to take any risks; neither can the Dominions. Let America have as large a navy as she wishes, and the same, applies to Japan. To both these nations such a display of pomp would be a luxury, but with Britain a supreme navy is an imperative necessity. The Dominions must contribute their quota in men, money, and ships on a scale commensurate with their resources and population. It would be well to ioster the sea spirit in the people of the Dominion, and one potent factor in this direction would be provided if, whenever a British warship came to New Zealand, it should be on view at all the 'important seaports. There would be no necessity for the largest ships to cast anchor, but to steam slowly past as near shore as safety would permit, so that the people could see for themselves on what their security depends.