IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9549, 22 July 1909, Page 7

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

* A PROPHET OF EMPIRE. LORD ROSEBERY'S GREAT SPEECH. Never before perhaps has a public speaker delivered such a magnificently Imperial speech as that which came from Lord Rosebery on June sth, when he proposed the health of the 56 colonnial and Indian jounalists who were in London as delegates to the Imperial Press Conference, at the inaugural banquet at the International Exhibition, Shepherd's Bush. The conclusion of the speech was as follows: Now, gentlemen, you will forgive me if I come next, and at once, to what is by far the most vital topic that you will have to discuss at this conference, one which concerns our Empire as a wnole —I mean that of Imperial defence. 1 do not know that in some ways I have ever seen a condition of things in Europe so remarkable, so peaceful, and in some respects so ominous as the condition which exists at this moment. There is a hush in Euorpe—a hush in which you may almost hear a leaf fall to the ground. There is an absolute absence of any question which ordinarily leads to war. One great Empire which is sometimes supposed to menace peace is engaged in its domestic affairs. Another Empire, which has furnished a perpetual problem to statesmen, has taken a new lease of life and youth in searching for constitutional peace and reform. All forebode peace, and yet at the same time, combined with this total absence of all question of confliction, there never was in the history of the world so threatening and overpowering a preparation for war. That is a sign which, I confess, regard as most ominous. For 40 years it has been a platitude to say that Europe is an armed camp, and fur 40 years it has been true that all the nations have been facing each other armed to the teeth, and that has been in some respects a guarantee of peace. Now, without any tangible reason, we see the nations preparing new armaments. They cannot arm any more men on land, so they seek new armaments at sea, piling up these enormous preparations as if for sume great Armageddon—and yet in the time of profoundest peace. We live in a time of "silent warfare," in which not a drop of blood is spilt in passion, but in which, however, the last drop is extracted from the tody by the lancets of the European statesmen. There are further questions of general preparation for war which must cause special anxiety to the friends of Great Britian and the British Empire, but I will not dwell upon these. I will only say—l will only ask you who have come to this country to compare carefully the armaments of Europe with our preparations to meet them, and give your impressions to the Empire in return. I feel confident in the resolution and power of this country to meet any reasonable conjunction of forces, but when 1 see*this bursting out of navies everywhere, and one country alone asking for £25,000,000 for extra taxation for warlike preparation, and the unprecedented sacrifice asked from us on ihe same ground, I feel uneasy at the out come ot' it all, and wonder where i f . will stop, or if it is going to lead back Europe into a state of barbarism, or cause a catastrophe at which the working men will say, "We will have no more of this madness and foolery which is grinidng us to powder." Gentlemen, we can and we will build Dreadnoughts—or whatever the newest type may be —as long as we have a shilling to spend on them or a man to put into them. All that we can do and will do, but I am not sure that even that will be enough, and I think it may be your duty to take back to your young dominions across the seas this message and this impression—that some personal duty and responsibility for national defence on every man and citizen. Yet, gentlemen, take that message hack with you. Tell your people—if they can believe it —the deploiable condition into which Europe has descended into militarism, ai d the pressure which is put on this little island to defend ita liberites — 5 and yours. But take this message also back with you—that the Old Country is right at heart, that there is no failing or weakness in heart, and that she rejoices in renewing j her youth in her giant dominions beyond the seas. For her own salvation she must look to herself, and, that failing her, she must look to you. I know that whatever may be the outcome of this visit you will return strengthened to your high functions as the guides of your communities in matters of the nation. And you will return convinced of the necessity of the mission of that communion of commonwealths whi>:h constitutes the British Empire. Having come, as 1 hope, believing in that faith, you will return to your home missionaries of the Empire—missionaries of the most extensive and the most unselfish Empire which is known to history. 1 will end as I began. After all, I may speak to you for hours, and I can only sum up what I have to say • in the two simple words with which I "began: " Welcome home." Welcome home, to the home of your language, your liberty, and your race. Welcome home to the source of your Parliaments, your free institutions, and of this immeasurable Empire! Welcome home to the supreme head of all these dominions -your sovereign and mine, who is not merely the King of Great Britain, but the King of hearts. Welcome home to this and anything besides that we in all brotherhood and affection can offer you. Welcome home!