DEFENCE OF EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 5 June 1913, Page 6

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE.

HON. J. ALLEN" INTERVIEWED. {By Telegraph.—Frew Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. The Hon. James Allen, Defence Minister, returned by the Mak ra. He is looking exceedingly well. Interviewed, Mr Allen was cheerful and optimistic, remarking in reply to a query, that his financial mission had been eminently successful, and that he had returned with definite proposals to place before his colleagues, regarding the naval question. With resp.ct of the proposals, the Minister said to the interviewer: "1 should like to take the public into my confidence, but it is essential that the Prime Minister and my fellowmembers of the Cabinet should first bj acquainted with them. Whatever our naval policy is, it must remain 1 with the Cabinet to say. I can say this though, respecting the natfal programme. It is quite clear that whatever is decided upon there need be no fear than any New Zealand quota will ba put under Australian control." NECESSITY FOR COMBINED ACTION.

Asked "Will there b® one fleet in Australasian waters?" Mr Allen reflied: "I am sorry that on this point cannot say anything. The policy must be decided by Cabinet; but I ean assure you that if anything is done in this direction or quota will be under New Zealand's control in sucli cases* though it might, of course, boin conjunction with the Australian < fleet in the event of ; t haye.come; liack With i a. propfosai,' absolutely :&s stffe result; of consultation with the British Aditrirftlty and the Committee of Imperial -Defence. I have always said ,and say it again, that there : is necessity for combined action in the Pacific between Canada, Australia rand New Zealand. I have aUvays. (Slid that; I have never altered my opinion. Hie same opinion, I gathlered on my journey through Cariada, ;is held by a great many Canadians. .New Zealand's danger is not from j Europe, in that sense. No European 'fleet is. likely to take the sea for this distant objective; but there are •Powers which could get here without having to deal first with Great Britain. Britain's fleet is not big enough Ho split *up and to put into two places at one time. That is a problem ' which faces us. Australia is facing it; so far we have not done ,so."

IMPERIAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

Questioned on the Subject of the Imperial Defence- Committee—whether New Zealand should be represented on it—Mr Allen replied: "If you ask,me if New Zealand was represented on the Imperial Defence 'Committee, I would say, 'No, not directly,' but I attended, and the Committee asked me a question. 1 [told them I would suggest certain things to the Cabinet. The suggestions were considered quite satisfactory, iand that, I am afraid, is all I can teli you just now." "What about your mosquito fleet proposal for New Zealand?"- suggested the pressman. "The mosquito fleet proposal for New Zealand?" exclaimed the Minister in surprise. "I have never said New Zealand must have a mosquito fleet. I have talked about a mosquito fleet and the purposes of such a fleet, but I assure you that I have not said to anybody in Canada or elsewhere that we must have a mosquito fleet."

CANADA'S DIFFICULT POSITION

Upon being informed that the Canadian Senate had rejected the proposal*-to build three Dreadnoughts and place them tinder the , control of the British Admiralty, the Hon. J. Allen agreed that a difficult situation faced th© Canadian Government. If Mr Borden! could accomplish his object of getting a redistribution of seats, that would certainly give him a majority in the Western States He said: "That is a good policy for him, and one that I can well understand, for it must mean that Quebec arid the Eiasrt generally will lose seats. Mr Borden got into power by making an alliance with the Nationalists, who were opposed to the Laurier policy and were generally disgusted with Laurier himself, partly over his old Beet arrangement. They were not at one with Mr Borden over the fleet question, but the alliance was based principally on the reciprocity policy. Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his party are naturally smarting under what they considered to be dissatisfaction among their own followers, and ever since their policy has been to bring about a dissolution and go back to the country. They are,

in short, willing to sacrifice almost everything to gain their purpose, even to th© point of Empire disintegration." MR CHURCHILL'S PROPOSALS Speaking of Mr Churchill's touring ffeet proposals, the Minister remarked that he really did not see what material service such a policy would afford to this part of the world. "Of course, from Canada's point of view," h e added, "it would be a capital idea for tliem to support a squadron cither for the Mediterranean or the North Sea. Such squadron would be right enough for Atlantic purposes and a defence for the Eastern shores of Canada, but so far a« the Pacific was concerned, I do not thing there would be any material value. Such a fleet would undoubtedly be of value but not the kind of value we want." AX AUSTRALIAN OPINION. "NEW ZEALAND WILL NOT COUNT FOR MUCH." {Received June 4. 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 4. Referring to the Hon. Jas. Allen's guarded statement, the Telegraph says: '"Mr Allen's present hints seem to indicate that he favours the separate unit policy at first propounded bv Sir Joseph Ward, and which the Government then virtually abandoned. New Zealand has a comparatively small population, and is to a serious extent isolated. Whether it can afford anything more than a mosquito fleet, which Mr Allen repudiates is to say the least questionable, and if New "Zealand cannot provide and maintain anything better than sL'ttiftsr quito fleet tlirn a?.-a partner with Australia and jCanadni in. keeping the Pn.oific. for Britain "it willjiot coiint for much.",. \ • > . . A»-