PACIFIC PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1921, Page 5

PACIFIC PEACE.

NAVAL CO-OPERATION ADMIRALTY DENIES STATEMENTS' I ' . POSITION EXPLAINED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Jan. 12. The Admiralty emphatically deny that there is any foundation for the statements published in Australia and America regarding British and American cooperation in the Pacific or any other overt action calculated to implicate the Dominions in any new naval enterprises. The Admiralty informed the Australian Press Association that it was absolutely untrue that there were any proposals for the American, Canadian and Australian fleets to work together in the Pacific or anywhere else. The Admiralty is unawarij of any proposal for the Dominions co-operating independently. The British Navy on the contrary, maintained a close liaison with the naval forces through the Empire which rendered independent action by any one part practically impossible. It is denied that any proposal has been formulated for increased naval contributions from the Dominions. ■ That was a matter entirely for the Dominions. Should necessity for increased contributions or a broader naval policy arise at a future date it would be first discussed by the naval representatives of the Empire, then by the Imperial Defence Committee and finally by the Governments concerned. No such necessity had yet arisen. It was more than possible that the future programme would be discussed at the next Imperial Conference, but that was a master within the province of the Prime Minister, who would draft the agenda later. The sub-comnjittee of the Admiralty was restricting its inquiry to the technical utility and tactical value of battleships. The Dominions would be informed of the results.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.