BRITISH DEFENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 11 December 1912, Page 5

BRITISH DEFENCE

THE CANADIAN OFFER

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER COMMENT.

(Received Last Night, 9 o clock.)

MELBOURNE, December 10. The Argus says: "Memorable in tin history of the Empire will bo the scene in the Canadian House of Commons when Mr Borden declared his nava! policy, which marks an important for. ward step in the closer co-operation of the Motherland and the Dominioni in the matter of Imperial defence. Although Canada's immediate policj differs from ours in form it is essentially one in spirit. More notable from the Imperial standpoint than Canada's generous offer is the Motherland's.! generous concession of the principle that such help must mean a;» ultimate partnership, determining the foreign policy of the Empire. Sooner or later, the fifteen millions white British subjects of tho outer Empire will have a proportionate voice in regulating the international relation? and external defence arrangements of the Empire." The Argus suggests that Mr Pcarce would be an eminently suitable person to represent Australia on the Defence Council. SIR JOSEPH WARD. - EXPRESSES AN* OPTXfON. (Received Last Night, 11.20 o'clock.) 1 EREMAXTLE, December 10. I Sir Joseph Ward. interviewed Inboard the s.s. Mongolia, said that I Canada'a offer was good on sontimenItal grounds. The condition that CanInda should have representation on. tlu> [lmperial Defence Council was a nailural corollary to such an offer. If, lie said, the Dominions wore going to +ake ji fair share in the defence of the Empire, they should have a seat on tho Council. The overseas representatives could not expect to oxerciep a very powerful in Alienee, ns the pe- | ""lation of flip Dominions wns rv'lv i fifteen, millions. cvYinnrod with fortv- ' r ve million in the Old Country. With- i in a quarter of a oontiiw tho Domin- I vms would have more than made >m the deficit, and then they will naturally expect e bigger renrcsenta- ! tinn. provided thcr wei-e shouldering I i fair share of tho Imperial burden".