POWERS AND NAVIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 530, 10 June 1909, Page 5

POWERS AND NAVIES.

A COSTLY RACE. THE KAISER COULD CALL A HALT. A NEW YORK VIEW. BRITISH AND GERMAN "NERVES." (BT TBtEOBAFH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—CoriSIOHT.) London, Juno 8. The Gorman newspapers contain bitter comments on Lord liosebery'a specch in welcoming tho delegates to the Imperial Proes Conference. Even the Liberal organ, ■ the "Vossische Zeitung," describes tho British nation, as the victim of an overheated imagination, and subjcct to a hallucination of persecution. Tho "New York Times," , in commenting on the speech, declares that no man could do so much as the Kaiser to quieten apprehensions of war. . The "Morning Post" suggests that as Mr. Asqriith has declared his readiness to limit armaments, if he could.bo assured that he would not be rebuffed, the' Kaiser would show himself to be a great statesman if ho woulH givo Mr, Asquith a cordial hearing, ■ NAVY ABOVE PARTY. ' NO PARTISAN PRESS IN WAR-TIME. London,. June 8. The Imperial Press Conference discussed the question of the Press and; the Navy. Mr. M'Kenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, who presided, urged that the Navy should bo placed above party, making it an Imperial question in tho sense of partnership in a navy common to all. Sir Edward Grey discussed the functions of press criticisms. He held. that there should not be a partisan press in war-timo, and that the newspapers should show their patriotism by preserving silenoe upon many things which they know. Lord Cromer, formerly British Etivoy in Egypt, urged the necessity of stricter control of the vernacular press.

Mr. W. P. Ward, editoT of . ttie "Sydney Daily Telegraph," made a'notable speeoh. Other speakers were the Right Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, ox-Colonial Secretary,' Messrs. H. A. : Gwynne (editor of the."Standard'?), J. A. Fuller Maitiand (musical critio of "The Times"), M. H. Park (editor of the "Capa Times"),- L. C. M. S. Amery (of "The Times" staff), and S. N. Banerjee (editor 'of the "Calcutta Bengalee"). ' OPPOSITION AID IN A NON-PARTY ISSUE. . Ottawa, June 8. . The "Free, Press," a Liberal organ,' suggests that Mr. R. L. Borden, Leader of the Opposition 'in. the Canadian Parliament, should participate in the Imperial Conference on Defence, to be held in July, as defence is not'a party question.' "SUPREMACY IN ALL SEAS." DOMINIONS' INITIATIVE. THE ADMIRALTY HAS AN ANSWER IF " ASKED.; " COMPROMISE, BUT NO SURRENDER (Rec. June 9,10.20 p.m.) ! London, June 9' The following are fuller reports of tho main speeches made in the naval debate 1 at 'the'lmperial Press Conference:— ' The I'irst Lord; of the Admiralty, .' Mr. M'Kenna, said: "Great Britain's difficulties, are growing,' Mid it may require ,tho whole of the Empire's strength to oope with them. As long as we keep tho maritime highways open, the difficulties of mutual 'deferice will be lessened.

"Naval defence in its Imperial aspect covers the globe; we have no less responsibility in one part of the Empirei than .in another, ,In the .development of the naval Idea the initiative should come from Dominions. England can-' not force her.strategic Ideas upon the' Dominions. If any Dominion, asks for the Admiralty's views, there will be a ready answer, but the Dominions will have their own views, and methods, and lessons taught by. others will not have ; the same effect ' as ■ those learned by themselves. The maip problem of defence is the same for all. It is the maintenance of British suprcmac" at sea, which means the maintenance of supremacy in all the seas."

Mr. M'Keima urged that tho Navy should be above party. He hoped that when the 'time came the press would sacrifice their professional interests by preserving secrets which were necessary ,in warfare. SIR EDWARD CREY. The Socrotary for Foreign Affairs;' Sir Edward Groy, opened with tho following description .of Great Britain's foreign policy;— "To keep what we have/ to consolidate '< ■ and develop It, to quarrel as little as possible with other people, and to uphold In the world's councils and In diplomacy the ideals which England ! values." Proceeding, Sir Edward Groy said that among the characteristics of : tho Empiro was a sense of justice. This was dominated by hatred of pretence and a frank recognition that all settlements must be in.the nature.of a compromise. Ho deprecated the idea of the Homo Goyernment being prone to make compromises where tho colonies' interests! were affected. : He continued:.... "Compromise is essential to every • great Empire. If we exacted our extreme need in every case, the British Empire would become impossible. Nevertheless we must keep, what we have, but we must be moderate in enforcing other claims, or there will be no fair room for others in the world." . Referring by way of emphssis to tho serious tone of Lord' Rosebery's mention of armaments, Sir. Ed ward Grey remarked,. "I ondorso every word of what Lord R-osebery said on Saturday." Sir Edward added: "We are in comparatively calm water, but the excessive expenditure on armaments makes the weather sultry. The seriousness of tho question cannot be over-rated. We have too much at stako to permit the Navy to'fall behind, whatever the burden.

"You have shown how great are our resources. We aro all travelling towards tho idea of union. Always let it be oiir endeavour to uphold the great' qualities of the national character, and. to labour to niakc our-government'honest, and the .Empire honourable." . AN AUSTRALIAN VIEW. • Mr. F, W. Ward (Sydney)'said it was a of genius which inepiied the idwoi

this conference, which wrb destined to exert a beneficial influenco throughout the Empire. There was no question so important to tho Empire as naval defonco,. The history of Australia showed tho value of Britain's command of tho sea. Doubtless her geographical position had something to do with Australia's security during tho past hundred years, but the advances of modern science were annihilating distances, and had brought Australia distinctly within tho, dangor zone. Continuing, Mr.. Ward said:

"Australia, with her small population, is a great empty continent, which would &e a whole Empire to some nations, This fact offers terrible temptation, and when there is danger on the seas, Australians will be right in it, as a matter of life and death. It.is not a question of some possible raid on Australian shores, but of keeping open trade routes. Take these away, and destroy British supremacy of the seas, and what advantage is it to Australia to shear her sheep or guard her gold?" • 5

Referring to the debato in the House of Commons,. cabled on • March 17—when the Prime Minister and the First Lord of tho Admiralty admitted that the Government had been surprised to discover an acceleration of the German naval construction programme, also that Germany could now build nearly, if not quite, as fast as Britain—Mr. Ward said that Mr. M'Kenna's, and Mr. Asquith's speeches fell lilto fire on tinder, and added enormously to tho realisation of tho position in which Australia stood. Australia's offer of a Dreadnought was a natural sequel. Mr. M'Konna had just stated that the Admiralty was ready with an answer, and would give "it if asked, regarding the best policy for tho common defence of the Empire. He trusted that the Australian representatives at the July Conference on Imperial Defence, would ask for that answer. ; (Applause.)

What (he asked) would be the uso of Australia providing a cruiser if the Imperial Government must go on protecting New Zealand, which was'still further away, ,-.nd Fiji, which was in the neighbourhood of Fronch and German possessions? It was tho duty of every one.of the outlying portions of the Empire to assist in maintaining British supremacy of-the seas. ,rie agreed with an incidental remark made on Satm'dsy by Sir Hugh Graham (Montreal,- Canada) to the effect that the ■ Imperial Government had been a little too indulgent to tho colonies in this matter. Mr. Ward added:

"We are quite willing to take the opinion of the Motherland's '■ responsible naval authorities regarding what is the best. policy, for we want,the. best, and we will do a fail share towards carrying it out." (Cheers.) MR. LYTTELTON'S PROPOSAL. The Hon. A. Lyttelton (Secretary for .the Colonies in tlie last Unionist Government) said he had heard with delight, and endorsed Lord Rosebery's utterance. Mr. Lyttelton suggested that colonial naval contributions .should not bo. in' the form -of an annual grant, but the money, should be used .to build • a ship which would make a nucleus for future effort and aspirations, ending ultimately in the ship being manned by the citizens.of the donor, colony, and named after the latter, hor officers also having facilities for rising to ,tho highest posts in tho Navy. CERMAN ACCELERATION. REPORTED PLACING OF FURTHER ' ' CONTRACTS. (Rec. Juno 10/ 0.40 a ft.) ' ' London, June 9. "The Times" says it is reported at Berlin and Kiel- that - contracts have been - signed •for the two capital ships of the 1909 programme (four in all), which-Admiral Tirpitz (Gorman Secretary to the Navy) assnrod the Reichstag would not be placed until some months later.

[A, previous cablegram, referring to the pro ceodmgs of the -Budget , Committee of the Keichstag, stated: rf As regards the new construction programme for 1909 (three battleships of the improved Dreadnought type, one armoured oruiser of the .improved Invincible type, and two, small cruisers, also destroyers), the committeo voted the fijst instalments of the' three Dreadnoughts, the Invinciblo, and the two small cruisers., It is officially stated that two of the Dreadnoughts on the 1909 programme are already i laid down., "Kreuz-feung" states that tenders for the two other warships on the 1909 prolamine (the third Dreadnought and the Invincible) will not bo invited until the autumn. Thus the time gained .on the construction of the first two 1909 Dreadnoughts will be compensated for, and there .will be-no 'acceleration of tho development of the'fleet beyond the times set down in -the.programme."]

THE MAILED.FIST AND THE LITTLE FATHER. —_ * ■

■ WHO INVITED WHOM P v ' . Condon, Juno 8, An amusing exchange of . denials is going on between the Berlin and' St. Petersburg press, in regard to the coming interview between tho Tsar and the Kaiser at Abo, ,'n Finland. _ Tho Germans claim that the Tsar invited the Kaiser, while the Russians declare that the Kaiser invited himself. AUSTRALIA'S OFFER. . BRITISH ACCEPTANCE—FORM NOT DECIDED. Melbourne, June 9. . The Prime Minister (Mr. Doakin) has announced that the Imperial "Government has cabled, intimating its cordial acceptanco of tho offer of a Dreadnought, or such alternative as it may suggest. Ho hopes in a few days to be ablo to announce tho precise i'orm the gift will take. Air.' Deakin states that ithe Federal Cabinet has not yet determined what moans to adopt for raising the necessary funds. . . . . '