IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2524, 10 June 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE “MORNING POST’S” SUGGESTION. KAISER SHOULD GIVE MR ASQUITH A HEARING. United Press Association—Copyright LONDON; Juno 8. The “Morning Post” suggests that ■by*. as Mr Asquith had declared his readi- \ ness to limit armaments if assured that he would not be rebuffed, the Kaiser would show himself a great statesman if he were to give Mr Asquith a cordial hearing. AUSTRALIA’S OFFER. CORDIALLY ACCEPTED. MELBOURNE, June 9. Mr Deakin, the Premier, announced that tho Imperial Government had cabled cordial acceptance of the. offer of a Dreadnought or such alternative as they may suggest. He hopes in a . few days to announce the precise arm ■the gift will take. Cabinet has not yet determined tho question of raising ilie . necessary funds.

DISCUSSION AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. SOME IMPORTANT SPEECHES. United Press Association —Copyright (Received June 9, 10.20 p.m.) Mr. MaKenna, who was presiding .Jit the Press Conference; said: “Difficulties are' growing which ■ may require the whole of the Empire’s strength. As long as we keep the highways open the difficulties of mutual •defence will be 'lessened. Navial de- ' 9'once, in the Imperial aspect, covers the globe. We have no less responsibility to one part of the Empire than to another. The development of the naval idea should come from the DomI , ’inions. England cannot force strategic Edeas upon the Dominions. If any •asked the Admiralty’s views there ■ would be a ready answer; but the Dominions would have their v : ews and methods. Lesions taught by ethers would not have the same effect as those learned by themselves. The main •problem of defence is the same for all. The maintenance of supremacy on the sea moans maintenance of supremacy eon all the seas.” 'He urged that the navy should be above party. He hoped <that when the time came, the press would sacrifice their professional interests regarding the necessary in ■ Warfare.

BRITAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY.

SIR EDWARD GREY’S VIEWS

Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, opened with the following description Of the country’s foreign policy: “Keep •what; we haye. ' Consolidate and develop it. Quarrel as little as possible ■with people. Uphold in the world’s Councils and diplomacy the ideals England values.” He said that among the Characteristics of the Empire was a teense of justice. This was. dominated by hatred of pretence, and by frank recognition of the fact- that . all settlernents must be in the nature of compromise. He deprecated the idea of *the Home Government being prone to ■make compromise where the colonies’ interests were affected. He said that Compromise wa3 essential to every great Empire. ' If they exacted the extreme need in every case, the British (Empire would become impossible. (Nevertheless, we must keep what we (have, hut be moderate in enforcing Cither iclaims. Referring by way of Emphasis to the serious tone of Lord (Rosebery’s mention of armaments, Sir (Edward Grey remarked: “I endorse fevery word Lord Rosebery said on Saturday.” He added: “We are in comparatively calm weather, hut the excessive expenditure on armaments makes the weather sultry. The seriousness (of the question cannot he overrated. We have too much at stake to ■ permit the navy to fall behind, whatever the burden. We have shown how great are our resources. We are all travelling towards the idea of union hnd allies. May it be cur endeavor to uphold the great qualities of the national character, and labor to make the Government honest and the Empire honorable.” ■

AUSTRALIA’S POSITION.

A SYDNEY DELEGATE’S IMPRESSIVE SPEECH. (Received June 9. 10.45 p.m.) Mr. F. W. Ward (‘‘Sydney Daily Telegraph”) said it /was a flash of genius •■which inspired the idea of the Gonferen.ee, destined to exert a beneficial influence throughout the Empire. No question was so import ant to the Empire as naval defence. The history of Australia showed the value of Britain’s command of the sea. Doubtless geographical position .had something to do ,i .with Australia’s security in the past >4 hundred years, but the. advances of .modern science were annihilating disr, itances, and had brought , Australia {distinctly Avithin the danger zone. Australia, with a small population, was a ' .great empty Continent, which would he a whole empire to some nations, and offered a terrible temptation, and when tfchore was danger on the seas Australians would bo right in it. It was a •matter of life and death, not a question of some possible raid-on .Australian whores, hut of keeping open trade 'routes. Take these away, and destroy •British supremacy on the coas, and to what advantage could Australia shear

CABLE NEWS.

her sheep and guard hor gold. Referring to the debate on the naval estimates in the House of Commons on the 17th March, he said that Messrs McKenna’s and Asquith’s speeches fell ‘like fire on tinder, and added enormously to the realisation of the position wherein Australia stood. The offer £f a. Dreadnought was tho natural sequel.; Mr. McKenna had that day stated that the. Admiralty were ready 'with an answer, and would 'give it if asked, regarding the best policy for the 'common defence of tho Empire. He trusted that the Australian representatives. at the July Defence Conference would ask for it. (Applause.) What would be the use for,. Australia to provide a cruiser if the Imperial Government must go on protecting New 'Zealand, which was still further away, and Fiij, •which was in the neighborhood of French and German possessions The duty of every on© of the outlying portions of the Empire was to assist in •maintaining British supremacy on the teas. He agreed with Sir Hugh Graham’s (Canadian delegate) incidental •remarks on Saturday that the Imperial Government had been a little too indulgent to the colonies in this matter. Mr. Ward added: “We are quite willing to take the opinion of the Motherland’s responsible naval authorities rc~garding Iwhat is the best policy, for we. want the best and want to do a fair share of carrying it out.” (Cheers.)

A CONSERVATIVE STATESMAN’S VIEW.

! SPEECH BY MR. LYTTELTON

The Right Hon. Alfred Lyttelton ((Colonial Secretary in Mr. Balfour’s Government), said ho was deligjhted to bear Sir Edward Grey endorse Lord Rosebery’s utterance. He suggested that the colonial contribution* should not be an annual grant, but money to build a ship, and make a nucleus for efforts and aspirations in the future, ending ultimately with the ship being manned by citizens of a Dominion or “Colony and named after them : her officers having facilities for rising to the highest posts in the navy.