PRICE FOR DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1922, Page 5

PRICE FOR DEFENCE.

PAYING FOR THE NAVY. DOMINIONS CRITICISED. BURDEN ON BRITAIN. By Telegraph.—-Press Asen.—Copyright. Received May 10, 9.30 p.m. London, May 10. Lord Lee, lecturing on the Washington Conference at the Colonial Institute. said the Versailles Treaty, while endeavoring to secure peace to Europe, nad undesignedly increased the chances of war in the Pacific largely in relation to Shantung, which, while ignored by Europe, was regarded in America as a question of colossal magnitude. The Washington Conference changed an inevitable war into an inevitable peace. Lord Lee deprecated suspicions of I Japan, whose statesmen played straight at Washington, as evidenced by the honorable manner in which they obcerved the letter and spirit of their engagements. Lord Lee paid a tribute to the splendid work of Sir Robert Borden, Mr. G. F. Pearce, Sir John Salmond, and Mr. Sastri. who wore typi'cal of the best of their i\’peetive peoples. They equalled the best of the other delegates in their ability and de termination to ensure the world'., peace. Nevertheless. Lord Lee regretted the Dominions’ attitude towards naval defence. He recalled the fact that at the last Imperial Conference the Dominions agreed to the maintenance of the navy !as the common concern of the Empire, and therefore the burden should be shared in. proportion, which would be ■settled after the Washington Conference. So far, however, the Dominions concerned had not assisted Britain to bear the crushing burden, ana rue result was that the British taxpayer alone was -footing the bill for the maintenance of the navy in defence of commerce, trade and the liberties of the Empire, including the Dominions. ® r *' tain was staggering along, hoping that the Dominions would open their hearts and pockets before it was too late Sir James Allen agreed that fhe Dominions had not taken their fair share, hut he said that Australia had observed her bargain prior to the war iwhon Britain failed regarding the Pacific. He claimed that New Zealand now bearing her full share. Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.