AUSTRALASIAN DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 137, 6 December 1912, Page 2

AUSTRALASIAN DEFENCE

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, 30th November. International developments and such 'interpretations of them as Lord Roberts gives with great earnestness and insistence, as well as the fear that the blaze of War in the Balkans may spread, have helped to concentrate attention on the matter of a thorough Australasian federation, or co-operative arrangement, for defence purposes. It is generally hoped that the visit of General Godley wilt bear important fruit in this connection. The hope is fortified by the experience in everyday affairs that personal contact is a big aid to understanding. As regards the vitally important naval division of defence matters are somewhat complicated by differences of policy. Australia has committed itself to a policy of a local unit stationed in these waters and provided for out of the local exchequer. New Zealand has thus far preferred to continue upon the lines of contribution. There is not unanimity here in tho belief that the Australian policy is the best. But to quote the Sydney Daily Telegraph, there appears to be ft general agreement on the point that " the policy having been entered upon it now becomes a general duty to do whatever may be possible to see that it has the fullest trial." The s&tisfacMon with which Australians will hail tho announcement that New Zealand and Australia have arrived at an effective working understanding in defenpe, particularly the naval part of it, has been given a start by the statement by the Commonwealth Minister for Defence, Senator i'earce, that New Zealand opinion on naval^ matters is "swinging in our direction '' Senator Pearce has indicated that this is not much more than his opinion, but there is a. widespread idea that he has, by virtue of his position, gained information which underlies his optimism. A view put forward in the press here is that New Zealand, which hesitated to take upon itself tho great burden of providmg a fleet which would be of practical utility, may regard the matter of policy in a different light in view of an opportunity of joining forces with Australia. We know that there have been informal exchanges of correspondence between the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers, find thei'e are strong hopes that directly after General Godley's return we shall hear of formal communications establishing a co-operative defence tscheme. The Sydney Morning Herald has just written : " Should the development now foreshadowed come about it will mark the greatest step towards the security of Australasia that its history has. yet seen."