MOST EFFECTIVE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 70, 22 March 1912, Page 7

MOST EFFECTIVE.

IMPERIAL DEFENCE 00MMITTEE PAPER BY LORD ESHER. CO-ORDINATION OF STRATEGIC PLANS. By Telegraph.<-i'ret« Association.— Copyright. (Received March 22, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 21st 'March. Lord Esher, in a paper read at tho Royal United Service Institution on " Co-ordination of the Naval and Military Services," declared that the Imperial Defenco Committee was the most effective method yet devised. He hoped to see the Dominions sending representatives, and thus taking a long step towards federation of the Empire. Th« ties with the overseas Dominions were mainly sentimental. Although there had been recent indications of the Dominions' willingness to assist in the defence of the Empire, if any attempt were made to co-ordinate strategic plans J t was not impossible it would prove disastrous. [The Committee of Imperial Defence is purely advisory — upon its recommendation* naval and military policy is theoretically,' and, in its main lines, practically, based. The purposes of th* committee is to consider questions ot Imperial defence from the point of view of the Navy, the Army, India, and the States of the Empire; to obtain and collate information from the various departments of the State; to prepare any documents required by the Prune Minister; to furnish such advice as may be required; and to keep adequate records , for the permanent inform&bioh of th* Cabinet. In its composition the committee is an elastic and flexible body; but it has for some time consisted of the Prune Minister, four Secretaries of State (other than the Home Secretary), the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the First Sea Lord, and the Director of Naval Intelligence (representing the Navy), the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and the Director of Military Operations (representing the Army) ; and, in addition to these official members, Lord Fieher, Lord Kitchener, and Lord Esher.] Admiralty and the dominions statement by~mr. churchill. expert assistance. t LONDON, 21st March. Speaking in the House of Commons in connection with the Navy Estimates, Mr. Churchill. First Lord of the Admiralty, alluding lo Imperial defence, said it was not for the Admiralty to initiate proposals to Dominions. It would cordially grant any expert assistance that wa* sought, and would frankly inform them of all facts connected with naval policy. Referring to the question of associating Dominion Ministers with Imperial defence, he declared that consultation on the subject would soon be loes encumbered by difficulties. The Imperial Defence Committee offered the most flexible means of establishing a real intimacy which ought to exist between the responsible leaders of the great Dominions and those concerned in the Empire's defenco here.