COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1503, 23 October 1886, Page 4

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

'kkllf Weiiingtok, Oct. 20, The Premier arid Colonial Treasurer have written a memorandum for his Excellency the Q-overnor, dealing with Admiral Tryon's letter oft he 6 th; June. , Dealing with colonial defence, the Premier in his memorandum, refers to previous correspondence ,in- May, in jjtslommericlfl 'Parliament to make an, annual; payment of, say, £200,000 for' ten years towards strengthening the . naval dafeinbes'of the' colony; • conditionally that during peace some;portiiia the colony should be established as the hoed quarters of at least two vessels of the fleet. He now says, after further: cohiideration, Ministers are unable to dispense^with 1 this condition, bht if it qan be shown that , the. . .cost on a peace footing would ‘be increased beyond ' the former estimate, Ministers would be prepared to ask for a moderate increase on -£200,000, Admiral Tryon’s letter to the Government of Victoria involves in his quet'tloplof ijayal Spences the relntionahip ol the ‘dblbmei to’defend thpmselves in case of war, but asks 'them to'giva 1 contributions towards the 'genera 1 'expenses 1 of tbA fleet pjE,the ißiipife; ? i Thet'Prefoidr' 1 continues- ''tbit Ministers do not think 'the colonies can be expected to aid in the general defence of the Empire ..unless contributions from all the British possessions are baaed on population and wealth of trade or area. For on oqnsideration of all these different matters, or dh one or indie of them, he suggests some scheme on the question ought to be drawn up ; by, the 1 Government, f to? |submlt- to ‘thd eoveraTciflopiesf possessions, for consideration.; •Ministers point out that the question . involVecU is hoir r far ban taxation be expected from- the people until they have some voice in its disposal.' If the colonies are: to contribute to the naval defence of the Empire, they should have a ivoice in the general expenditure, and also the saying when thejlnpin has to go to .war. Ministers Ido not tbiink the time ripe tor any different form of Government or bond of unity than exists. It is apparent to them that were the. Empire united in a more general and stronger . form, different from what exists now in the United Kingdom, -it -would have greater —power :ampngthe nations; wdfthey wduldflMfitrie" ■a*position more akm ;- United filatds than any other European Power, and it, could itand' aloof from: European 1J weirs 1 and struggles; If this -position is assumed, then might arise’a close bond: of intimacy if not union between Imperial interests ■ and those of the United States.' ’From correspondence between Admiral Tryori and the . Governors and Premiers of the colonies, Ministers think that there is little chance of a settlement ol the question of colonial defends, but that the question refened to muit be- considered. | • Latbb. 1

The colonial Treasurer’s memorandum ii from a treasury point of view. He considers the question ing passed into an urgent politipsl .one in Hew Zealand and Whw'juni was threatened the New Zealaqd Q-overnment were willing to recommend ‘an annual payi meut of £200,000, asif war had broke out New Zealand was‘marked as an inviting spot for,the,operatipnsof. cruisers.-.,,T0 this the Admiralty .has shpirn » ad' td i respond, but is evidently pmused at the Australian coloniesasjumingliability towards the naval defence of the Empire,/ Two broad issues are’presented: First, whether the colonial Q-overnih'eht can acquiesce in -thd Imperial ; Government : confessedly leaving that portion of the Empire insufficiently protected and using the fact as a means of negotiating for pecuniary contributions) Secondly, whether the groups of colonies should consent" to contribute to the naval forces,,. and j, if r so, in what ; terms. The Treasurer is unable to agree that the Aus* tralasian colonics should be. left without adequate support, and cordially agrees, that the colonies, in common with other British; dominions, should contribute to the cost of the naval forces of the Empire. He thinks the Mother Country, India, 1 the constitutional colonies' and Grown, colonies should contribute os an estab-' listed basis, and they should , have| fairly proportionate' representation in'the Federal Parliament j thp basis, of, contri-’ bution to be on a threefold condition of pro-’ party, population, and trade, and subject to periodical adjustment. This should place: the naval forces on a footing to render Great’ Britain thus constituted indifferent to the 1 complications and dissensions of Foreign i Powers, The Treasurer thinks the Colony should not commit itself to a wider scheme, which is not equally Applied t*‘|M parts of' the Empire.