MR FRED WARD'S GREAT SPEECH.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 289, 10 June 1909, Page 5

MR FRED WARD'S GREAT SPEECH.

WHAT AUSTRALIA WILL DO. LONDON, Yesterday. Mr V- W- Waxdj editor of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, declared that it was. a flash of genius which inspired -the idea.of this conference which was destined' to have a beneficial influence throughout, the Empire. There was | not a question so important to the Empire as that of naval defence. The history of Australia showed the value of Britain's." command' of the sea. Doubtless her geographical position 'had something to dp with Australia's jsecurity during the past hundred years, but the advances of modern science" in 'annihilating distances, brought Australia distinctly within the danger zone. Australia, with a email population, was a great empty continent, which would be a whole ■Empite to some nations, and offered a terrible temptation, and when, there was! danger on the seas Australians would be right in it. It was a matter oflife^and ;' i death. It was not a question of some possible raid on Australian shores, but of keeping open thfl trade routes . Take these: away and destroy British supremacy on the 6eas, and what advantage would it be to the Australians to shear sheep or guard their gold? Referring to the naval debate cabled /fo on the 17th Maxch.VHr^ Ward, said that Mr McKenna'B and\ Mr.Asquith's speeches fell lik-^ fire^on tinder in Australia and added enormously to the realisation of the position wherein Australia stood. The offer of a Dreadnought was the natural sequel. Mr McKenna had to-day stated that the Admiralty was ready wvfch its answer and would give it if asked, regarding the .best policy .for the common defence "of tlie; Empire. Ho trusted that the Australian representatives at the July conference would ask it. (Applause). What would be the use should Australia provide a cruiser *f. the Imperial Government must go oh protecting New Zealand, which was etill further away, and Fiji, in which neighborhood were French and German possessions. It was tho duty of every one of tho outlying portions of the Empire to assist in maintain- j ing the supremacy of the seas. He agreed with Hugh Graham's incidental remark on Saturday that the Imperial Government had been a little j too indulgent to the colonies in this Tcepect. ! Mr Ward added: "We are quite willing to take tho opinion of the Motherland's responsible naval authorities regarding what is the best policy, for we want the best and to do our fair share in riarrying it out. (<3ieem) '

■r- • •••■ ■ • ": ' . / LONDON, yesterday. ThoJEEon. R. McKenna, presiding, eaid .that difficulties' were growing that may. jrequire tho whole of the Empire's strength. So long as thejg <xrald keep, the" highways open the difficulties of mutual defence would be lessened. Naval .defence in the Imperial aspect covers the Globe. "We. have no loss a responsibility in on© part Of the Empire than in. -another," said Mr MoKonna. In the development of the navy, the idea should come from the Dominions. England cannot force strategic ideas upon a Dominion. ' If they asked the Admiralty's views, . then they would be" ready to answer them, bivt the Dominions would have to have their own views and methods. The lessons taught by others would not have the same effent as those they learnt by themselves. Maintenance of the supremacy of tho sea means the maintenance of the supremacy of all * the seas." Mr McKonna urged that the navy should be above party, and he hoped that when the time came the press would sacrifice professional interests regarding secrets necessary in warfare. Sir E. Grey opened his speech with the following description of tho country's foreign' policy : "Keep what we have; consolidate and develop it;

quarrel as little as possible with other people, and uphold in the world's councils and diplomacy' the ideals of England." Roferring to Lord Rosebery's mention of armaments, Sir E. Grey remarked:. "I endorse every word Lord Rosebery said on Saturday." Sir Edward added: "Wo are having comparatively calm weather, but tho excessive expenditure on armaments ;. makes the weather sultry. The seriousness of tho question cannot bo over-rated. We have too ,much at stake to permit the navy to fall behind. ■'> Whatever tho burden, you , have; shown how great are our resources. We are all travelling towards the idea of a union of, allies." Ho urged, that it should be our endeavor to uphold the great qualities of our national character, and labor to make the Government honest and the Empire honorable.