CO MP ACT FOR DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2018, 27 March 1914, Page 7

CO MP ACT FOR DEFENCE

AMONGST THE GREAT OVERSEA . DOMINIONS. FEDERAL PRIME MINISTERS' VIEWS. By Telegraph-Press Association-OoDyricM Melbourno, March 26. I lie Federal Prime Minister (Mr. J. Look), speaking at a banquet at Wangaratta, and referring to the reliance upon the Japanese Treaty for-the peace of tho Paciiic, said that they were under treaty obligations with a nation whoso people they might not admit to their shores. They must at all cost defend the White Australia policyy. Ho believed that tho time was ripe for the development of naval defence. He would like to see Canada and South Africa round the conference table as well as Australia aiid New Zealand. The latter Dominion so far had kept to the idea of contributing to,tho strene;th of the Imperial Navy. On'tho otherhand, Australia had begun to develop its own navy. He hoped Mr. Massey's latest speech was indicative of feeling in Now Zealand, and that Australia would soon be able to welcome the Dominion in tho compaot. REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS. NO OFFICIAL OVERTURES TO GERMANY. ."Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. London, March 25. Sir Edward Grey (Secretary for Foreign Affairs) in answer to a'question in tho House of Commons, stated that no proposals had been made to Germany for tho reduction of armaments other thaa thoso contained in public speeches.