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the various points on which it can be suggested that the propositions submitted to us to-day might impinge upon the determinations of the Governments and Legislatures of the Dominions here represented. For my own part I feel no anxiety on that score, because the address which you delivered, Sir, displayed at every point a most distinct appreciation of our susceptibility. You made it perfectly clear that what is laid before us comes in the way of counsel, expert advice, well-matured advice, backed up by knowledge, but simply advice, which it would be well for all our Parliaments to take into consideration. That broad general principle having been established Ido not propose to dwell upon it in detail. So far as I follow it, that is not necessary. In particulars, we have the advantage of the comments of the Minister for the Department of Defence for the Dominion of Canada, who is necessarily much more in intimate relation with this matter than either my colleague or myself. We are associated with departments of peace and not of war, and the knowledge that we enjoy is that which is general to all members of the Cabinet. Still, I have been sufficiently informed by my colleagues through their advisors to be able to appreciate the fact that you have covered the whole ground upon this question. Besides that you have touched upon some matters which it is our desire to have specially considered. So far as lam able to judge, the proposition for the future use of the General Staff is one of as much importance as it is of obvious magnitude. The General Staff is supposed to be the brain of the Army. Any proposition which would extend its activities or permit us to share them, would be heartily welcomed in the Commonwealth. A General Staff, such as we possess, naturally occupies itself with those problems which are peculiar to Australia and its very special situation. At the same time we quite realise that any situation, however special, requires to be dealt with in the light of certain general principles, and particularly of the latest developments of martial methods and organization, and consequently I anticipate nothing but great advantage to us from any association with the General Staff. That will arise in a variety of ways under other proposals which have been brought forward. In the list of subjects laid before us the General Staff is properly put first, and really the particular questions afterwards suggested are, many of them, to be dealt with, if not by the General Staff, at all events in the light of its studies. Passing then to them, we find the first matter submitted is our adoption of similar armaments, and that is, I think, fully recognisable even by a layman as one of the essentials of effective Imperial defence. We say yes to that proposal, so far as it can be carried out, without the slightest hesitation. - Next, apparently a little out of its logical order, comes the proposal for an interchange of units, which in our case appears almost impracticable. The great distance which separates us not only from this country but from any other dominion in which such an exchange would be proposed, is one obvious obstacle, but a greater obstacle is that our force of permanent men is relatively small; it consists of well-trained experts whom we should be loth to part with, and a unit in that sense we could hardly spare even if its position was endeavoured to be taken by an equally competent unit abroad. We have no possible objection to urge to this proposition except in our own case the question of its practicability, that is as to the unit, As to the interchange of officers, I am specially asked by my colleague the Minister of Defence of the Commonwealth to press for an extension of that principle. We at present enjoy the privilege of exchanging with Canada and with India and with yourselves, single officers, sending to you and you sending to us. We find that in every way a useful practice, but we desire to carry it out on a larger scale, that is larger for us because ours must be on a small scale as I need not remind you. The proposal which you have made with

Fourth Day. 20 April 1907.

Military Defence. (Mr. Deakin.