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Fifth Day. 23 April 11107

Mr. DEAKIN : Commercial shipping only ? Lord TWEEDMOUTH: No; it includes warships. I think in the British Return there were about 108,000 tons of warships. But with that enormous interest in the sea and in the shipping that goes on the sea, it is absolutely necessary that we should make the passage of that shipping across the soa safe. That is what we aim at securing, and that is what we ask your help in doing. Mr. DEAKIN : Pardon me for interrupting, but when you speak about British shipping, does that include shipping constructed in other parts of the Empire, or only in the United Kingdom .' Lord TWEEDMOUTH : That is within the United Kingdom. Mr. DEAKIN : The total of the construction in the various Colonies is small ? Lord TWEEDMOUTH :It is not very large. It amounted last year to about 26,000 tons. I have here a statement of the subsidies which in the past have been given by the various Colonies. Australia gives 200,000/; New Zealand, 40,000/; Cape Colony, 50,000/; Natal, 35,000/; Newfoundland, 3,000/; in all 328,000/. Gentlemen, what I have to say is that the Admiralty and His Majesty's Government are perfectly ready to meet these contributors to Admiralty funds in a liberal and conciliatory manner. We do not wish to insist that the contributions from the Colonies should necessarily be in the form only of money. We are quite ready to enter into any arrangements with the Colonies that may seem most suitable to them, and which may seem to bring advantage to the Navy, and advantage to the Colonies themselves. I have here drawn up a short statement of what may be called the general principle with which the Admiralty desire to meet the representatives of the selfgoverning Dominions of the King beyond the seas. His Majesty's Government recognise the natural desire of the self-governing Colonies to have a more particular share in providing the naval defence force of the Empire, and, so long as the conditions of unity of command and direction of the fleet is maintained, they are ready to consider a modification of the existing arrangements to meet the views of the various Colonies. In the opinion of the Government, while the distribution of the fleet must be determined by strategical requirements of which the Admiralty are the judge, it would be of great assistance if the Colonial Governments would undertake to provide for local service in the Imperial squadrons the smaller vessels that are useful for defence against possible raids or for co-operation with a squadron, and also to equip and maintain docks and fitting establishments which can be used by His Majesty's ships. It will further be of much assistance if coaling facilities are provided, and arrangements can be made for a supply of coal and naval stores which otherwise would have to be sent out specially or purchased locally. I understand that, in Australia particularly, and in South Africa, it is desired to start some naval service of your own. Perhaps I might suggest that if the provision of the smaller craft which are necessarily incident to the work of a great fleet of modern battleships could be made locally, it would be a very great help to the general work of the Navy. You cannot take the small craft such as torpedo-boats and submarines across the ocean, and for warships to arrive in South Africa or in Australia or in New Zealand or in Canada, and find ready to their hand well-trained men in good vessels

Naval Defence.