IMPERIAL' NAVAL’ DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2078, 13 May 1907, Page 2

IMPERIAL' NAVAL’ DEFENCE.

Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, May 10. The Admira/ty intimate that since concurrence of the colonial Parliaments Is necessary, they will await formal communications lroin the coonial Governments boforo giving eifeet to the new decision respecting the Australasian station.

Received 5 p.m., May 12. Admiral Fremantle, in an interview regarding the naval agreement, clared that if Australia chose to act aloof she would get an inferiar article. A small navy had serious drawbacks and dangers. Among others it was impossible to oiler a career to good men. Though he had every sympathy with Australia’s ambitions, ho failed to see the wisdom of their withdrawal from the naval agreement.

MELBOURNE, May 10. Sir John Forrest, referring to the decision of the Imperial Conference t:i terminate the naval agreement, said ho thought the old agreement was an excellent one, but that he could not say that some other such as Mr. Deakin proposed would not lie even hotter. Personally he pro!erred it should run its course until it expired by ellluxion of time, as the machinery and training were just getting into working order, It was never intended by Mr. Deakin or the Government to interfere with the agreement, hut the position had been changed by the Imperial Government, which was so anxious for the agreement in 1902. It was impossible to say till Mr. Deakin returned what would he done or when the present system would terminate. The tariff question would have such a prominent place in the next session that it might be inconvenient at the beginning to deal with the naval question. Press Association.

WE LLINGTON, Saturday

The Attorney-General explains that the naval agreement, which was entered into three years ago lor a period of ten years, binds pho Imperial Government, the Commonwealth, and New Zealand, in a contract which .•annot he determined without the consent of the three contracting parties. Unless, therefore, the New Zealand Parliament consents to deter mine the agreement, it must continue in force till its expiry by effluxion of time, seven years hence. If it is to he determined, the question of wh. is to take the place of the present arrangement becomes an important one.