The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1920. MAINTAINING SEA SUPERMACY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1920. MAINTAINING SEA SUPERMACY.

he decision of the Government caucus in Canada to refuse to accept Lord Jellicoe's proposals for a Canadian navy draws attention to a matter that is of vital importance to the whole of the Empire. In case the events of the war have effaced from memory the steps that were taken in 1909 to lay the foundations of a practical organisation for Imperial Defence, in whicli the self-governing States of the Empire were to share the duties with the Mother Country, it may be recalled that under the terms of a resolution of the Imperial Conference of 1907 there Was a conference on Imperial Defence, at which several alternative schemes of co-operation in Imper-

jal naval defence were suggested. I As a result the delegates from South Africa decided to wait until the Union was an accomplished fact before arriving at any decision; New Zealand preferred to adhere to the existing policy of contribution, while Canada and Australia were determined to lay the foundations of navies of their own. The practical outcome of the conference was that the Dominions adhered each to its own policy. In view of Canada having a double seaboard, it was proposed that she should start with two little fleets, geographically self centred, but neither of these could give her any real security, or afford for many years to come any adequate preparation for the defence of her interests by sea. The conference did not consider this was an ideal arrangement, nor one that had a sound strategical basis, but it had been deemed politic and expedient to favor the naval aspirations of the younger States, rather than to provide one common fleet for the whole Empire by the readiest and cheapest means. Although the principle involved in 1909 is identical with that of 1920. the whole aspect of naval defence ' has altered in the light, of exper- ' ience gained during the war. The 1 fundamental fact is that the Dr.- j minions cannot, and should not ex- < pect the Mother Country to shoul- 1 der the colossal burden of main- ' tuning naval supremacy, but that 1

j the younger States should cheerp fully, willingly, and, as a matte; of obvious duty, share the burden ; to an extent commensurate with the population and volume of trade in each Dominion. So far ns New Zealand is concerned, Lord I L'llicoe's proposals are such as mbe mostly accepted. It would be absurd for this Dominion to entertain the idea of having a little fleet of its own—useless for purposes of security, but involving a large expenditure that could be more ipfitably and sensibly utilised in other directions. New Zealand has no naval aspirations, though it is only politic to be afforded the means for obtaining a naval training for any suitable lads who desire to enrol in the Empire's first al-m of defence. With Australia and Canada the ease is different. The Commonwealth'is determined to have a White Australia," and is prepared to adopt extreme measures to that end. The Yellow peril may be only a bogey to-day, but, who can say it will not materialise in the future? The day may come when a Chino-Japanese fusion may be driving A wedge into the outlying portions of the Empire on mischief bent, or some other combination of warlike peoples may make the Pacific and its border territories happy hunting ground for plunder. It is prudent to prepare for all possible contingencies, so that, Australia has a manifest duty in this matter. It is certainly difficult to understand the reason why the Canadian caucus should object to Lord Jellicoe's proposals. The necessity for naval defence is far greater now than it was in 1909, as Can-, ada's trade grows year by year. America affords an object lesson that cannot be ignored. She is aiming at possessing the most powerful navy in the world, and it is only reasonable to suppose that such a policy is the outcome of mature deliberation, and for a specific purpose. Whatever that purpose may be, there can be no doubt that the United States is averse to a renewal of the Japanese treaty. It is unthinkable that Canada should not carry her fair share of the burden of Empire and the maintenance of Imperial supremacy at sea. Possibly, in view of the enormous pressure caused by the financial burden of the war, it may ,be thought that Lord Jellicoe's naval proposals are somewhat premature. That would be an excellent reason for their modification, but not for rejection. The most urgent of Imperial problems, apart from those of a domestic or economic nature, is that of ensuring the co-operation of the different parts of the Empire by sea and land, with unity of purpase and reciprocal adaptation of means to resources. The necessity for a broad and statesmanlike outlook is urgent. It is not the world conditions of to-day that are of the most vital importance, ; but those which may arise' from J the accident of a moment in the , future. The great outstanding i abligation is to be prepared, p.ad, 1 in the ease of the Empire, this ! 3an only be accomplished by unity md practical co-operation on the J Dart of all the units. For defence, j ;he Empire is one and indivisible j md that is why a systematic plan ' )f operations is so essential. It { s also a reason why there should j je no weak link in the chain. c [Since the above was in type a cable 0 nessage lias been received, stating that n he Canadian Government will take part; i the naval scheme, a decision that will ) e welcotaed by the other Dominions, as I fell as by Britain.] p