EMPIRE NAVAL POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1921, Page 2

EMPIRE NAVAL POLICY.

DTS' CSSION BY PREMIERS. MR. MASSEY’S OPINION. Questioned after his arrival in Auckland in regard to the discussions at the conference of Prime Ministers with reference to naval matters and the future policy of the Empire, Mr. Massey said that this was a very important subject end he would deal .uly with it later. •1 will only say now. - ’ he added, “that while no one would be better pleased than I to think it possible that there will be no more war, I cannot regard that time as having yet arrived.” “The resolution passed by the conference on this subject was as follows: “That, while recognising the necessity of co-operation among the various portions of the Empire to provide such naval defence as may prove to be essential for security, and While holding that equality with the naval strength of any other Power is a minimum standard for that purpose, this conference is of opinion that the method and expense of such cooperation are matters for the final determination of the several Parliaments concerned, and that any recommendations thereon shoufld be deferred until after the coming conference on disarmament.’ ‘Tn addition a number of useful consultations took place between the Admiralty and representatives of the various Dominions and India, at which were discussed such matters aa local co-opera-tion of each Dominion in regard to the provision of oil tanks, local navy defence, etc.”