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Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 290, 11 June 1909, Page 2

LONDON, yesterday. 1 Mr Balfour, ai the Press Conference, said the fate of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and India would not be decided in the Pacific, but in the northern hemisphere. Everybody who reads the signs of' the times agree with Lord Rosebery's and Sir Edward Grey's weighty words, and must recognise the impossibility of looking the subject in the face without anxiety, not to say panic. Mr Brierly, of Montreal, said that if danger threatened the Empire, Canada was prepared to spend her last cent., and give the last drop of her blood to prevent catastrophe. The results of the conference would not be found in the minute books, but in the increased interest in Imperial matters. Mr Haldane agreed with every word Mr Balfour haH said and he urged the colonies to organise their forces in the interests of their own necessities, but to remember it was pos- | sible tiioy would need the co-operation of ihe Empire. Mr Balfour and he felt the burden of the present time. Difficulties were arising which were not accidental, but because other nations were becoming more wealthy ' and powerful. But still he believed .

the Empire's rate of progress vr as greater than any other race. Mr Fenwick said the speeches of the Ministers and ex-Ministers this week had made tho conference historic. The editors had received much inspiration on many points. The spontaneous offer of tho New Zealand Dreadnought was not measured by its cost. It was a demonstation of patriotic feeling which would help forward all the Empire. Ho disclaimed disapproving of the action of Canada and Australia and their decision to provide their own defence, but all must recognise how inadequate local provision must be. The safety of the overseas dominion lay in the maintenance of a great Imperial navy. Therefore, he urged the press to support it. Mr "Cunningham (of Melbourne) said it was impossible to get Australia to realise this" that their first efforts must be wholly directed towards the Imperial navy. They should bo first interested in their own defence, and to think of a navy, if only a local navy. That would be tho stepping stone to the Imperial navy. Ho thought Australia had been treated indulgently in the past, and that was the secret of whatever enthusiasm which in the recent offers. New Zealand -and the Commonwealth were delighted that the new Government had adopted 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. Lord Roberts said the chief danger in England was they had enjoyed so long the supremacy of the seas that the security on land was apt to bo regarded as safety and a fixed condition. He believed a new era had commenced. It might require the whole Empire to justify its existence, and nothing but forethought and preparation would make us reliable for a great emergency.