OPPORTUNITY NEGLECTED AND DEAD!

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3578, 18 July 1912, Page 5

OPPORTUNITY NEGLECTED AND DEAD!

WILL THE EMPIRE HAVE CAUSE FOR REGRET?

mn NAVAL DEFENCE.

DAY FOR EFFECTIVE PREPARATION AT HAND.

GREAT SPEECH BY CANADIAN PREMIER. “WHEN THE DAY OF PERIL ARRIVES—”

LUNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT; (Received July 17. 11.10 p. m .) LONDON, July 17. Mr Borden (Canadian Premier) was tlie .principal guest at the inaugural banquet of the Empire Parliamentary Association. Mr Asquith (British Premier) in a otter apologising for his absence, reerred to the fact that many overseas’ larliainentarians were pining for such in Association, and stated that tins Lowed that, the founders had perormed a valuable work. Mr Lyttelton (ex-Colonial Secreary) presiding, said that with many f those present his supreme idea for j years had been an Imperial Navy, and alongside it a voice of influence in the councils controlling the Empire’s foreign relations. Mr Borden, responding for the overseas’ members, dwelt on the anomalies in the Imperial system anti said that the British Parliament was no longer Imperial in the highest sense as the composition was determined mainly on domestic issues wherewith the dominions had no concern. Yet it controlled the Empire’s relations and destinies. This condition was a little open to criticism. Britain's long sea supremacy had been unchallenged. It had been maintained by the United | Kingdom alone, because the dominions ! of the Empire were England’s wards, j-iie time was now to hand, however, when they were called to take a reasonable and legitimate share in safeguarding the Empire’s existence. It was needless to say that in time of peril every dominion would respond not less loyally and earnestly tlian the Motherland- One realised, however, that when the day of peril arrived the day for effective preparation would, perhaps, have passed. Those accepting a share in the res- j ponsibility for the Empire’s security must no longer be considered wards by their raeif-constituted 1 , guardians. Canadians would never willingly accept such conditions. The next 10 or 20 years would be critical and possibly decisive in the Empire’s history. Cod grant they would never have cause to regret an. opportunity neglected and dead!

CANADA’S POSITION FORECASTED

AN EMERGENCY FLEET,

DREADNOUGHTS TO BE PLACED AT BRITAIN’S SERVICE.

(Received July 17, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 17

The “Times” Toronto correspondent says that judging by cablegrams from various directions there is some misunderstanding of the policy which Canada desires to adopt. This is not understood to give Dreadnoughts to the Admiralty, but to build Dreadnoughts at intervals of two or three years, these to constitute an integral portion of the Imperial Navy in war time and also to be the chief vessels of the Canadian licet if one is established. Any immediate agreement to build Dreadnoughts represents only an emergency contribution to the Empire, hut beyond this a permanent policy will be devised in consultation with the Imperial authorities.

AUSTRALIAN FLEET UNIT.

TO CONTROL THE STATION.

TRANSFER TO BE MADE NEXT

MONTH

(Received July 17, 9.25 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 17. The warships Australia, Sydney and Melbourne have arrived. The transfer of the control of the Australian station to the Australian Fleet Unit has been deferred to August 1.