NAVAL POWER.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17460, 22 May 1922, Page 6

NAVAL POWER.

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION. PBIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

Misapprehension appears to havo> arisen regarding New Zealand's attitude on the naval contribution question owing to the misinterpretation of cable 3 sent to England based upon a statement by the Minister of Defence, »»nd comment thereon purporting to represent the views of tlie British Admiralty. The impression has been created th.it New Zealand has i>een waiting for some declaration or request from tho Admiralty before increasing her nav:il contribution. This is quite incorrect (says Saturday's Wellington "Post''). The subject w«s thoroughly discussed at the last Imperial Conference, and it was then announced that the final settlement on contributions could not bo made till after the Washington Conference. Lord Lee of Fare-ham was not present when those discussions took place, and his speech, as cabled (which started t'he present discussion), would appear to indicate that he was unaware of tho full effect of tho proceedings. When tho first cabled report appeared, Mr Massey was reluctant to expiess an opinion, in view of the possibility of Lord Lee's remarks having beer, made to beat' a different complexion to that intended owing to condensation for cable purposes. In view of subsequent discussion, however, Mr Massey thought it wise to issue a statement making the position clear '.ind giving the fullest information that could be given without breach, of confidence. His statement is as follows: — The resolution of the Conference has already been made public, in which it wnfi stated plainly that the matter w-.is held over until after the Washington Conference, which, by the way, has not lessened the responsibility of the British Empire, except in so far as an understanding has been arrived at in respect to the Pacific. The territories' of the Empire cannot be properly protected without sufficient sea-power, and though the number of capital .ships which each Naval Power may be possessed of is limited, there is no limit to vessels of tho cruiser, class below a certain tonage. My opinion is that will at each Dominion will contribute can only be settled at an Empire Conference, and then subject to ratification by each of the Parliaments concerned. I have frtated definitely that New Zealand will do its full share, and I 'am quite confident Parliament will shoulder its responsibility, but while this should be done as soon «s possible, we must have an opportunity to readjust cur finances, ana recover to a certain extent from the effects of the Great War in whidli we played no unimportant part.

CANADIAN POLICY. OPPOSITION TO GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright,) (Australian and N.Z. Cable. Association.) OTTAWA, May 19. Despite Lord Lee's recent London speech, in which he complained that the Dominions were nbt fulfilling their naval obligations, the Canadian Government has decided to cut down its n^vy. Two years ago the Admiralty gave Canada the cruiser Aurora, the destroyers Patriot and Patrician, and two submarines. The Minister of Defence (Hon. Mr Graham) has announced now that the Aurora and the submarines will be laid up, and that the only defence maintained will be one destroyer and two armed trawlers in thfc Atlantic and the Pacific. All Imperial naval officers will return to England, Canada creating a naval volunteer force. This policy, which is now before Parliament, is meeting with the bitterest opposition.