IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2585, 20 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF.

CANADIAN SECTION TO BE CREATED. '(jNirioi) Prksb Association— Copyright LONDON, August 19. ' la connection with the Defence Conference, Canada, like other Dominions, -creates a local section of the Imperial General Staff. The organisation enables Canada to co-operate with the rest of the Empire. Steps wore taken to indicate the staff after Sir F. Borden's 1908 mission to England. The nucleus of a Canadian navy will be commenced immediately, with an eye to tho Pacific, as well as tho Atlantic. The dock facilities will also be increased. v THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE. PERTINENT COMMENTS BY THE “STANDARD.” The /“Standard,” commenting on the results of the Defence Conference, as tar as they are known, remarks that •one of tho vital points is that a programme will be concerted wherein due attention will be paid both to local re quirements and wider interests; that concerted action is tho keynote of the whole scheme, and very much will depend on harmonious co-operation. There has been an increasing readiness on the part of th© United xvingd-un to examine the defences from the standpoint of the Dominions, as well as ours, Imperial unity is based on local equi Hj with Imperial sentiment.

SPEECH BY THE HON. JAMES BRYCE. THE GOOD RESULTS OF SELFGOVERNMENT. (Received August 19, 11.55 p.m.) OTTAWA, August 19. The Right Hon. James Bryce, British ambassador at Washington, in a speech at the Canadian Club, at St. John, New Brunswick, said: “The full self-Governmcnt which the great Dominions enjoy is recognised by Britain, as much as by you, as one of the mosteffective weapons for securing both your own welfare and a sense of Imperial unity, binding ns together. Any and every effort ' you and the other great Dominions are disposed to make concerning the common defence of the Empire and of each part thereof, will be welcomed by ns, not only as a help towards securing the safety of each ’territory—and in this there is no sort or kind of aggression, for our relations with all great nations are friendly —hut also as an evidence of the feeling -of common patriotism and devotion for the purpose animating us all.”

AN APPARENTLY INSPIRED STATEMENT. NEW ZEALAND’S SHIPS TO BE. CRUISERS—NOT DREADNOUGHTS. (Received August 19, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 19. An apparently inspired statement in. connection with the Defence Conference declares that, under an arrangement between Sir Joseph Ward and the Admiralty the vessels contributed by the Dominion will not he Dreadnoughts, but cruisers, forming part of the Pacific squadron, and employed in New Zealand waters for local defence. RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE. NOT PUBLISHED” TILL DELEGATES RETURN HOME. (Received August 20, 12.15 a.m.) No official information as to the Defence Conference will he forthcoming until the oversea delegates return to their respective Dominions and explain the situation fully to their own people and legislators. The “Times” says that not until Sir Joseph Ward is once more in New .Zealand will the conclusions of this historic, and possibly one of the most momentous Imperial gatherings, be officially revealed.