NAVAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1921, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE.

MB. MASSEY’S VIEWS. LESSONS OF THE WAR. STRONG PACIFIC NAVY. By Telegraph.—Frets Assn.-—Copyright. Londv.i, July 26. It is evident, from the. exceptional prominence given by the London and provincial Pre&s to the speech of Mr. Massey at Bath and the editorial comments that it is regarded as the most, important since his first address on arrival. x’he speech was delivered at the luncheon after the freedom ceremony to a gathering of 300 people, who frequently cheered Mr. Massey’s vigorous, straightout utterances. The Daily Telegraph says that the function was chiefly notable for the speech of Mr. Massey, and publishes it in extenso.

Mr. Massey said he believed the conference deliberations would result in the bonds of Empire being stronger than six months ago. One of the problems was to get the distant countries of ih»‘ Empire together and to reconcile conflicting interests, so that all could speak with one voice; and act as one nation. The League of Nations had done fcood work, but he still thought the Empire should be ready to meet an attack at sea. He hoped the conference at Washington would be successful. He desired to ee British representatives there He was not speaking personally of Mr. Hughes and himself, as that might be impossible, but he wanttid to see the British representatives there speak with one voice.

He instanced that one of the lessons of the war w r as the necessity for a strong navy to keep open the communications for the British Empire chain of nations round the world. If a foreign nation took possession of a part of the British territory, and the navy was too small to enable it to get it back, the Empire would certainly go to piece® in such circumstances. He knew the difficulties of finance at this period, but we must not accept a risk that we could not afford to run. A navy could not be built in six months like an army. A strong navy was a question of life and death to the South Pacific. The present position weg not safe and could not be tolerated.

The Morning Post says: “We commend to serious consideration the rareing of Mr. Massey who stated in plain words that in respect of naval defence the Empire was taking risks it could not afford. Never in comparison with other navies has Britain fallen so low. We discern in Mr. Massey’s observations an appreciation of the requirements of naval defence which is one of the most valuable results of the conference.”

The Bristol Times says: “It is the spes u) f a distinguished statesman.”

The Times has a leader on the necessity of arrangements whereby Australia and New Zealand may be fully heard on the Pacific problem at the Disarmament Conference.—Special to Press Association.