FIFTY DREADNOUGHTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1911, Page 2

FIFTY DREADNOUGHTS.

TO THB BDIXOK. Sir,— All the Overeea Dominions Will not look favourably at" Su- J. G. Ward's scheme for an Imperial Council in tho face of his statement that theeo dominions could provide fifty Dreadnoughts without over-burdening themselves. Debt has ever eat lightly on the shoulders of our Prime Minister, and apparently the older he grows tho greater his recklessness in 'tnis respect. Everybody was staggered at his live million loan of laat year, but New Zealand's share of this gigantic Dreadnought proposal would be nearly ten millions of money. No wonder hundreds of members of th& Imperial Parliament are supporting him. But few of the over -sea portions of the Empire will lend themselves to any such proposal, even if thdt^ople of New Zealand f Je ,.*fe r ,«noughJ.-to do so, silly enough to follow thfeir jingoistic leader. Australia is wisely building a navy of her own instead of -tying herself to the .chariot wheels of Great Britain, and Canada, is doing the eaine, consequently these important parts of the Empire will not_ consent to association with au Imperial 'Council' empowered to levy taxa tion. and call for war machinery on the colossal scale suggested by the promoter of the idea. This Dreadnought building is a wildly stupid proceeding calculated to disturb the peace of the world and impoverish tho public exchequer. Instead of a mad policy of this description our Imperial Council, if we are to have one, should set itself the tack of conciliating the world's Powers — not menace, them by creating huge armaments. It may be contended that Germany would not countenance conciliation but before she is prejudged in this matter her profession of defence and not defiance should be accepted. Great Britain has grabbed and held to the exclusion of all other nations so much of the earth's sur'fac«, that it is only natural other Powers should want to see the end of this expansion. The time has come for Britain to r«6t on the laurels already won and make terms with her neighbours assuring- them that 6he has no further conquests to make, and that if they will recognise and respect her existing possessions she will do the same by them and let the question of the occupation, or annexation of any disowned, sick or incapable outside nation be a matter for mutual adjustment by the allied Powers. A practical scheme on these lines would add to the prestige and glory of the British Empiro, and make the statesman tbat bring*) it forward famous for all time. Defence schemes which provide for enormoue armaments and the enrolment of huge standing armies will not lead to peaceful understanding. If Germany were asked to como into a, compact on terms absolutely fail- and just to her, and she refused we would then be entitled to regard her as a hostile nation who seeks war\ and who must be fought. Being the greatest Power on earth Great Britain should offer Germany the "olive branch" and if the offer is scorned then the "iron hands" should be extended in every direction until its crumpling effect on her trade, commerce, and financial interests forces her to accept our offer or perish in hopeless resistance. Then, but not till then, should Sir J. ,G. Ward's fifty Dreadnoughts be built in the quickest of quick time, and the challenge to fight thrown down in the interests of future peace, for no other Power on earth menaces the peace of the world and Great Britain is entitled to fight who ever opposes peace. Once peace is established whether it be by the triumph of the pen or the sword, our energies can then be directed in. a whole-souled manner to the material betterment of ©very man, woman, and child in Christendom, but while warfare threatens, this happy consumation is staved bfl", and the problem of want and poverty remains unsolved. No social progress can be made while the resources of nations are drained away to maintain armies and navief. The citizen army that New Zealand is training is all that any nation should build up and maintain, and to this end the British Imperial Council should work. — I am, etc., F. T. MOORE. Johnsonville, 30th April, 1911.