THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 6

THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC.

THREE BIG PROBLEMS. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S VIEWS. (From Our Special Correspondent.i LONDON", June 25. When lire Balkan trouble is finally sottled—the settlement does not appear quite so near at hand to-day as it did several weeks ago—more attention will perhaps he given by our statesmen to the problems which are pressing forward for settlement in the Pacific. The '•Morning Post," which has for many years past paid very considerable attention to matters affecting the overseas Dominions. has this week set forth the views of the High Commissioners of Australia, Canada and New ZeaJand, which nations have speeinl interest in the Pacific. They call attention to three different i'acilic problems: Canada to that of trade, Australia to that of race, New Zealand to that of defence. These statements are necessarily guarded in a measure sine* they arc official, but the "Post" thinks they will be studied with interest by British public men whose thoughts are turning to the future of the Pacific.

AUSTRALIA'S DESTTNT. The High Commissioner for Australia, beginning with a cautionary preface that it was necessary to speak with reserve on certain aspects of the Pacific question, cordially agreed that it wos of Imperial importance, that the future fate of that ocean should be thoroughly discussed. "Australia in particular." lie said, "must give the closest and most careful consideration to the problems arising out of the development of the Pacific littoral. Looking at the geographical position, it is not possible to avoid the conclusion that, whether it be for weal or for woe, Australia's drstii.y will force her to take a leading part in Pacific issues. The size of the Australian continent, the variety of its resources, the possibilities of its development, its position as a citadel of the British race ... set within what might be described geographically as an Asiatic sphere of influence —must make it the central point of interest in any vital issue between the white and coloured races.

"Please <lo not misunderstand mc in ; giving t-o that phrase any hint of hostile anticipation. My great hope, a con- \ firmed optimist, is that the dovclopmcjit | of Asia . . , will allow the dilTl- . cullies between the white .and the col- ■ oared races to be. solved by peaceful rivalries. In that event the position of j Australia as the rhief outpost of the ] Empire and of the white races in Austra.- : lasian waters, whilst highly important, | would not be so critical as if the other ; unhappy development should come—the ; failure of the effort to divest the prim- I ova! instincts of mankind from thoughts | of war into the infinitely wider range i for emulation that is offered by industry : and by science. In either event, perhaps Australia nnist hold the centre of t"" , stage, as Pacific problems develop. In UiP unhappy event of a race war her . strategic position would be of the importance: in the other event, of peace- | fill development of race rivalries, she j must be one of the greatest commercial centres in the East and South." the white Australia instinct. Sir George proceeded to explain most! Ciu-efuliy that in the White Australia] policy there is no intention of offending other races. "It is,' , said he, "purely and simply the outcome of a.a instinct, which is at the. heart of every race—■ i Chat of trying to maintain its racial integrity and to develop its own racial! ideal:-'. This instinct, 1 s.iy. is at the I hc;irt of every race. But the force of! its development may he increased or , diminished by circumstances. In the Mother Country, for instance, you may li!l ;i great hall with honest ■ rain«l«*d people to express approval of sentiments, admirable in spirit and Christian in theory, but antagonists to the Australian policy. Rut land Asiatic labourers ;it London Docks or in the Mersey t-o : work by the skle of the people 'here, and the Australian view would be better understood. I often think that, from a point of view of moral serrtiment, it is j nn excellent thing that these British j IsJauds should lie where they are. far. away from direct contact with race pro-I blpms. With us in Australia the instinct | of race preservation, which i=s dorm-ant with you. is at its keenest. But I wish to insist always that the White Austrn- | lia policy docs not prevent Australians I from feeling the greatest respect and admiration for the good qualities of otheT races. T believe that ie coming to be understood." THE KEY OF THE PACIFIC. Tfae Hon. TSioma,s Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, expressed the. opinion that the Pacific Ocean probabiy will be. the arena in which the destinies of the world's future would be settled. "You have only got to look at the map,' , said Mr. Mackenzie, "to realise hoir much of the world* activities must centre in and around 1 Oceana. Impinging on the Pacific .. . ■are all the. young nations of the earth ! and nearly all the earth's oldest eivilisa tions. The teeming millions of the East .. . must find their trade and commercial outlet across the Pacific Ocean jn a southerly, or ejistcrly, or westerly direction —perhaps in all three directions. But whatever the direction they follow, they must come up against the youngest nation in possession of the widest and richest areas of the world's surface yet remaining to be adequately peopled. I epcak more particularly of Western Canada, the Western United States, the Western shores of the South American Continent, and Australia, New Zealand, and the many groups of islands which abound in the tropical and sub-tropical zonea of the I'ai-.ilU: Tlie race that wine the mastery of the Pacific, be it white or yellow or brown, will gain a possession than which there ha<s been nothing a* great in the world's past, than -whicii tliere can -be nothing greater iv the world's future-

.... An faj- an the Southern Ocean U concerned, New Zealand is one of the keys—perhaps the 'Key—of the Pacific. Can you wonder, then, that we are so keen on defence? Our very existence aj a free people ie dependent on the adequacy of our defence—partly that which we ourselves can provide, partly that for which we are dependent on the Imperial Navy, and partiy that which may be provided by the Britian peoples equally interested in the maintenance of Uie white sirprcmacy of the Pacific. ...

'"When the Hon. James AHen, our Minister for Defence, was returning to the Dominion via. Canada to is reported to have declared, when at Vancouver, that 'th-e control of trw Pacific was going to 'he a very important mutter, and that every Ne-w Zealauder ! .<icw that sooner or later the Eastern question would be mixed up -with Canada's lraval problem on the Pacific seaboard." Colonel AHen went on to say that JSTew Zealand -could- not as-nsech

in the way of naval defence singlehanded 'as if she were to unite with Cunada and Australia in working out some scheme of defence of commerce on tho Pacific on a broad scale that would assist the MotheT Country.' These are questions of policy upon which 1 cannot express any opinion, but I only mention the matter to show that the problem of the defence of the Pacilic is engaging tb-e attention of overseas state-smen no less than that of the Imperial Defence authorities, and that whatever the ultimate form of the system of Pacific defence, New Zealand will not be bstekrward in bearing l«?r share of the burden." lx>rd Strathcona's contribution was chiefly a recital of Cana*la"s great and growing trade int;rest_s in the Paeitie, which need not be repeated here. Touching the matter of the Panvima Canal he said: — "It is impossible for anyone to say with certainty what will be the effect of the opening of the Panama Canal, but British Columbian ports will bo brought by the all-water route thousands of miles nearer than at present to (treat Britain and to Montreal. The matt-er is one of great importance, and it can sa.fely be said it is receiving the attention of capable men both in England ami in Canada, so that the advantage may be taken for the benefit of the liritish Kmpire of whatever possibilities the cr.ua! nray afford."