IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 578, 5 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

■» ——— THE CONFERENCE, NAVAL MEMORANDUM DISCUSSED. MATTERS' FOR EXPERTS. (By Telegraph.—Proos Assoclatlon.'-OopyrlEhU (Rec. August 4, 9.40' p.m.) London, August 4. The Imperial Defence Conference discus sioiw last week dealt only with the inilitar; question. . The Admiralty's latest programme was n the delegates' hands during the \veok-en< recoss. To-day! the Conference commencec the discussion of naval matters at tin Foreign' Office, and sat for an hoar and l half. The First .Lord of the Admiralty, Mr M'Kenna,' and the Secretary for, Wm, Mr Haldane, were present. _. There was only u vory general discussioi of the naval memorandum. 'The details. wer< referred to a committee of exports, whicl will meet to-morrow. The Conference adjourned till Thursday.

AUSTRALIAN POLICY. LABOUR PARTY ATTACKS MR. DEAKIN. Melbourne, August 4. In the House of Representatives, Mr. W. H. Hughes, who was Attorney-General in the last Labour Ministry, moved the adjournment of the House, in order .to discuss the Government's action, in failing, to disclose, the instructions which it Rave to the Commonwealth representatives at the Imperial Defcnco Conference. Mr. Deakin was badly heckled, but declined to be drawn. ■ Ho raised a storm by accusing the Opposition of porsistently wasting time. ' '. \ ' IMPERIAL NAVAL GENERAL STAFF. Melbourne, August 4. The Federal Minister for, Defence, Mr. Cook, approves the suggestion made by "The Times" for the formation of an Imperial General Staff in connection with tile Navy. Ho sees no difficulty in the way, but many advantages. ■■■ ' , Such a staff, said Mr. Cook",' is /inevitable The Navy of the Empire must be one in the broadest sense. Ho hopes later on to 6t in an Australian Navy as a section of it.