NAVAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1922, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE.

QUESTION OF INITIATIVE. ON DOMINIONS’ PART. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, May 16. The cabled of the attitude of the New Zealand Ministry of Defence on Lord Lee’s speech raises the question of initiative. The Admiralty, hitherto, out of respect to Dominion susceptibilities has ■hesitated to make the first movd, hoping the Dominions would take the initiative. It is now considered likely that, following the New Zealand hint, a memorandum will be drawn up setting out the requirements following the Washington Conference. This will naturally be most confidential and will doubtless receive the attention of Mr. Lloyd George after his return. In a recent speech, Lord Lee, First Lord of the Admiralty, said nevertheless,, he regretted the attitude of the Dominions towards naval defence. He recalled the fact that at the last Imperial Conference the Dominions agreed that the maintenance of the navy was

the common concern of the Empire, and therefore the burden should be shared in proportions which should be settled after the Washington Conference. So far the Dominions had not assisted Britain to bear the crushing burden, with the result that it was the British taxpayer alofte that was footing the bill for the maintenance of the navy and the defence of the commerce, trade and liberties of the Empire, including the Dominions.

Britain was staggering along, hoping that the Dominions would open their hearts and pockets before it as too late. Sir James Allen, High Commissioner for New Zealand, agreed that the Dominions had riot taken their fair share. He agreed that Australia 'had observed the bargain before the war when Britain failed regarding the Pacific. He claimed that New Zealand was now bearing her frill share.

The reference in the above cablegram to the views of » the . Dominion Minister /of Defence probably refers to a statement by Mr. Massey. Interviewed on naval defence questions on Friday the Prime Minister said: “New Zealand will do its share.” The Imperial Conference of 1921 had affirmed the necessity for co-operation among the States of the Empire in providing such naval defence as might be essential for security. Mr. Lloyd George had said at the conference that the United Kingdom could not go on bearing the whole cost of the Imperial Navy. The Prime Ministers, including Mr. Massey himself; had agreed that the Dominions should take their share of the burden.

Mr. Massey added that the adjustment of naval defence policy necessarily had been (left over until after the Washington Conference. The Prime Ministers who were present at the Imperial Conference of 1921 could not have laid down exact plans, since it was obvious then that the naval policy would have to be considered in the light of the ■outcome of the conference on disarmament. The matter would come forward

at the next Imperial Conference. The final decision as far as New Zealand was concerned would rest with the New Zealand Parliament, but as he had said in the House of Representatives last session, he did not doubt for a moment that the Dominion would do its duty.