The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 11, 1921. EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 11, 1921. EMPIRE DEFENCE.

No problem that the Dominions’ Premiers have to solve presents such complications and difficulties, besides involving so large an expenditure, as that of Empire defence. It is the outstanding matter of importance for which the Conference was summoned to consider, and whatever decisions are recorded must inevitably be of reat moment to the units of the Empire, as well as to Britain, The purport of the discussion was to elieit from the Dominions’ Premiers their views as to what they wanted in order that Britain could decide how far she could go towards meeting the requirements. The new status of nationhood into which the Dominions have entered imposed on them greater obligations and responsibilities than heretofore, and it is no easy matter to decide the direction and shape the new policy should take. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. Churchill) stressed the point that the Motherland did not desire to shirk her responsibilities or unload the cost on others. The fact remains, however, that the Dominions have emerged from the stage of guardianship and become partners in the Empire, and as such must shoulder their new responsibilities ■worthily. It is the measure of co-operation that has to be decided, and on this question there is room for much difference of opinion at the present tune, mainly owing to the financial factor. It may fairly be assumed that the Dominions are no more desirous of shirking their responsibilities than is the British Government, but the question of providing an equitable, effective, and practical scheme of Empire defence in time of war presents many difficulties, not the last being the provision and upkeep of a supreme Navy consisting of enormously costly warships that speedily become obsolete and the constant invention of destroying agents that may render void the heavy expenditure incurred on those ships. That, however, is a lottery, and unless general disarmament is adopted it will be imperative for the Empire to continue to rely on the Navy as its main protective agency. The question then arises as to the basic principle on which the Empire Navy is to rest, that is to say, whether it shall wholly be provided by the Motherland or in part by the Dominions. Australia clings to the ambition of having a fleet of her own which would become part of the Imperial Navy in war time, and there are indications that Mr. Massey inclines to some sort of partnership by New Zealand in that policy, which may be plausible, but is as unsound and impolitic as it will be unpalatable to the people of New Zealand, because it would still further merge the identity of this country into that of the Commonwealth, and there is already far too much confusion in the minds of those overseas on this matter. This is not a matter of jealousy, but of national status. If there is to be unity in Empire defence it can only be obtained by means of a united Navy under Imperial control, the units of the Empire contributing thereto on an equitable basis to be arranged. Whether that basis shall depend on population or the value of imports and exports is matter for discussion, but that the Navy should be wholly Imperial seems to be beyond question. Mr. Hughes admits that the task of holding off an enemy for a month in the Pacific was greater than the Australian Navy could accomplish, and that strongly emphasises the weakness of small navies and the absurdity of their existence. “One Empire, One Navy” should be the governing principle of Empire defence. This living in a constant atmosphere of anxiety as to war is most disturbing and oppressing, and so long as war is possible it is necessary to be prepared, but it is equally necessary to strengthen the League of Nations and to arrange friendly agreements between the chief naval Powers to preserve peace, and so enable many millions to be annually diverted to useful purposes instead of being wasted on armaments.