FROM SWORD TO PEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 138, 11 June 1909, Page 5

FROM SWORD TO PEN.

CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS. LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM ~ MORE OF .DEFENCE. AN ARMY OF EMPIRE. (By Cable.—a?ress Association.—Copyright.!' LONDON, June 10. .After partly dealing with the problems of Imperial defence on sea and land the Imperial Press torday discussed "Literature and Journalism." iord Morley, Secretary of State for India, presided. Brilliant speecnes were delivered by the chairman, Lord Milner, Mr. Winston Churchill, Mr. Augustine BiTrell and Mt. W. L. Courtney (editorial "staff of the "London' Daily Telegraph"), The -debate was continued by Sir Ed-ward-Russell, Mr. W. S. Douglas (editor of the "New Zealand Herald"), and Mr. Englebery, of Pretoria, and Surendra Nath Banerjee (editor of the "Bengalee"). The Conferenece then adjourned till June 25, when, after a tour of the kingdom, -it- resumes thf- discussion on the question of defence.. Many of the delegates were anxious to restrict to-day's discussion on literature in order to continue the defence debate, but it was decided to re-assejnble ior .this purpose. ASTONISHING UNANIMITY. The "Daily Mail" comments on tha astonishing unanimity displayed at the Conference upon the navy, though the subject is.fraught with all the elements of political controversy. Sir Edward Gre y agrees with Lord Rosebery, Mr. Balfour with Sir Edward Grey, and Mr. Haldane with Mr. Balfour. COLONIAL FORCES. At the discussion yesterday on the Press and the Army, Mr. A. J. Balfour (Leader of the ' Opposition), who presided, remarked that the fate of Australia, New .Zealand, Canada, South Africa, or India would not be decided in the Pacific or the Indian Ocean, but in the Northern Hemisphere. Everybody who read the signs of the times must agree with Lord Rosebery's and Sir Edward Grey's weighty words, and recognise the impossibility of looking at the subject of Imperial defence without anxiety, but not with panic. Mr J. S. Brierly (Montreal) said that if danger threatened the Empire Canada would be prepared to spend her last cent and give her Jast drop of ;blood to prevent a catastrophe. The results of the Conferefice would not be found in the .minute books, but in the increased interest that would hereafter be taken in Imperial matters.

Mr R. B. Haldane (Minister for War) agreed with every word that Mr Balfour had uttered, and urged the colonies to organise their forces in the interest of their own necessities, but to remember the possible need for co-operation in the defence of the Empire. Difficulties were arising which were not accidental, but because other nations were becoming more wealthy and powerful; but he still believed the Empire's rate of progress was greater than that of any other race. Concluding, he advocated his scheme for a general-staff in touoh with all the Oversea' dominions. .--- ;. - - _.. .-- -~ AN HISTORIC CONGRESS. Mr George Fenwick ("Otago Daily Tiroes") said that the speeches of Ministers and ex-Ministers this week had -made the Conference "historic, -and -the -visiting editors had received much inspiration on many points. The spontaneous offer by New Zealand of a Dreadnought was not measured by its cost. It was a demonstration of New Zealand's patriotic -feeling, which should stimulate the Empire. He disclaimed disapproving of the action of Canada and Australia, and their decision to provide their own defence; but all must recognise how inadequate any local provision must be. The safety of the oversea dominions lay in the maintenance of a great Imperial navy, and therefore he urged the Press to support it. Mr E. S. Cunningham (editor of the 'Melbourne Argus") said it was impossible to get Australians to realise that their first efforts "must be wholly directed towards an Imperial navy. A local navy would be a stepping-stone to an Imperial one. He thought Australia had been treated indulgently in the past. That was the secret of the wave of enthusiasm which resulted when the recent offers of New Zealand and the Commonwealth were made. He was delighted that the new Government of the latter had acted in accordance with the people's wishes. Australia was not ready to adopt universal training. It involved many problems, and he doubted the wisdom of attempting to force it at the present stage. FORETHOUGHT AND PREPARATION. • Lord Roberts said the chief danger was that England, having enjoyed so long supremacy of "the seas and security on land, was apt to regard her safety as a fixed condition. He believed a new era had commenced, and it might require the whole Empire to justify its existence.' Nothing but forethought and preparation would make us ready for a great emergency. Mr. Theodore Fink (a director of the 'Melbourne Herald") moved a resolution in favour of universal training. The Commonwealth's latest offer, he said, was not intended to interfere with the provision of local defence, which should always be subordinate to Imperial needs. He believed it was Australia's desire that the nation's manhood should be trained, so that if the emergency arose they could be organised into an efficient military unit. ARMCHAIR CRITICS. Mr. Mark Cohen (editor of the "Dunedin Star"), who seconded the motion, said the colonies spent large sums on education, and surely it was right to .ask for some return for that expenditure for the purpose of defence. After the words of warning from Lord Roberts and the statesmen who had addressed the Conference, it would be useless to take further notice of armchair .critics who dreaded compulsion. He advised that Lord Roberts be' sent as a missionary throughout the Empire in furtherance of his campaign in -support of the universal training movement. Several of the speakers objected to .the resolution as outside the objects of the meeting, and it was therefore with-? drawn. Mr. James O. Fairfax (one of. the proprietors of the "Sydney Morning Herald") said that if the forces overseas undertook an important share in Imperial defence some steps would.be required to give them a share in the guidance of those forces. Further questions might arise respecting their share of control ta times of peace or war. If the resolution had been pressed; he would have supported it, because the yolantary system had utterly failed and modern warfare required good training.

" ENTERTAINING THE DELE- j GATES. _ The delegates to-day attended a reception -and luncfiep-p. at "the Mansion House giyen by the Lord Mayor of-London (Sir George iTruscott). .Besides the visiting -pressmen, « hundred .other guests were present. "While-the delegates were at the Man-! sion House the Victoria League entertained the ladies of the party to.luncheon' at .the Hyde Park Hotel. The Countessesof Jersey and Crewe, Ladies Beacons-! field," Northcote, Miss Balfour, Mesdames Harcourt, Lyttelton, Gladstone and Aus-j ten Chamberlain -were the hostesses. The Labour-.party entertained the dele-! •gates at'tea oh the terrace <pf the House; Lof .'Commons, but .no-speeches-.were made.', ;Later '.the delegates 'and ladies motoredj to the-grounds of the Ttanelagh Club,' where'sthey were entertained at a banquet! by MrsC- A. .Pearson. Mr Pearson, who; has .done,;much :of"ihe organising work ;of. the Conference, was.absent during an operation to his :eyes. The beautiful! groundsof 'the club 'were illuminated. •Newspapers of :every party. continue :toj devote columns to the Conference, in ad-! -dition to leaders -daily.