SUPREMACY OF SEAS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3212, 11 June 1909, Page 5

SUPREMACY OF SEAS

REMARKABLE SPEECH. MR BALFOUR AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. "IF ARMAGEDDON OCCURS." United Press Association—By Electric Telcgr np Copyright. Received June 10, 8.40 a.m. LONDON, June 9. The Rig tit Hon. A. J. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, presiding, delivered a remarkable speech at the sitting of the Press Conference. He endorsed the views expressed by Lord Rosebery at the opening banquet on Saturday, adding that, if Armageddon occurred, ifc would not be in remote parts of the Empire, but in European waters. Mr Haldane, Secretary for War, agreed with Mr Balfour and Lord Rosebery, and advocated his scheme for a General Staff in touch with the staffs of the co'onies. I

Mr G. Fenwick (Dunedin), Mr E. S. Cunningham (editur of the Melbourne "Argus"), and Lord Roberts also spoke. The Hon. T. Fink (Melbourne) proposed a resolution urging the advocacy of universal training, Mr Mark Cohen (editor of the Dunedin "Star"), in seconding the motion, urged that Lord Roberts should be sent as a missionary throughout the Empire. The Conference disapproved adopting any resolution, and the motion was therefore withdrawn.

FATE OF THE COLONIES. ' WHERE IT WILL BE DECIDED. Received June 10, 9 45 p.m. LONDON, June 10. Mr A. J. Balfour, speaking at the Press Conference, said that the fate of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, arid India would not be decided in the Pacific or Indian Oceans, but in the Northern Hemisphere. Everybody who reads the signs of the times agrees with Lord Rosebery's and Sir Edward Grey's weighty words and recognise the impossibility of looking at the subject of Imperial defence without anxiety.

Mr Brieriy (Montreal) said that if danger threatened the Empire, Canada was prepared to spend her last cent and give her last drop of blood to prevent the catastrophe. The results of the conference would not be found in the minute books, but in the increased interest in Imperial matters. Mr R. B. Haldane said that he agreed with every word Mr Balfour had spoken. Mr Fenwick (Otago, New Zealand) said that the speeches of the Ministers and ex-Ministers this week had made the conference historic. Editors had received much inspiration on many points, The spontaneous offer of New Zealand's Dreadnought must not be measured by its cost. It was a demonstration of a patriotic feeling which would help forward all the Empire. He disclaimed disapproval r of the action of Canada and Australia, and their decision to provide their own defence, but all must recognise how inadequate local provisions must be. The safety of the oversea Dominions lay in the maintenance ot a great Imperial Navy. Therefore he urged the Press to support it. Mr Cunningham (Melbourne) said that he thought Australia had been treated indulgently in the past, and that was the secret of the wave of enthusiasm which resulted in the recent otters of New Zealand and the Commonwealth. He was delighted to think that the new Government of the latter had adopted the people's wishes. Australia would not be ready to adopt universal training. Tt involved many problems, and he doubted the wisdom of attempting to force it upon the people at the present stage.

Lord Roberts said he believed that a new era had been commenced that might require the whole Empire to justify its existence. Nothing but forethought and preparation would make us reliable for a great emergency.