"THAT'S ALL RIGHT, AND AUSTRALIA'S ALL RIGHT"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1912, Page 7

"THAT'S ALL RIGHT, AND AUSTRALIA'S ALL RIGHT"

COMMONWEALTH PREMIER'S COMMENT. A RECOGNITION*!^ AUSTRALIA'S POSITION. (Received December 7, 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Prime Minister (Mr. Andrew Fisher), interviewed on the subject of Canada's offer, said: "That's all right, and Australia's all right." He supports the idea of an Australian delegate to the Imperial Defence Committee, who should be a Minister closely in touch with the Australian policy. Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, said he was sure Australians would hail with delight Canada's establishment of a < fleet in the Pacific. "It is a recognition of Australia's position," he said: "and seeing that the Dominion acted after consulting the Admiralty it is a commendation of our attitude.'' The Minister presumed that the Canadian scheme was complementary and supplementary to the Australian scheme. So far as he ( knew no communication had been received from the Imperial Government regarding the proposed Pacific fleet. The matter was one of policy, upon which he was unable to speak freely. APPLAUDED BY ENGLISH PRESS. CLEAR DEFINITION OF IMPERIAL SECURITY PROBLEM. LONDON, 6th December. The press generally applauds Mr. Borden s policy, although the Daily News asks whether there is such urgency as requires Canada to abandon its original idea of a Canadian Navy, or whether the proposal furnishes relief to Britain. The Times says Mr. Borden's speech is the first clear definition ever publicly given by a British statesman of the problem of Imperial security. With every succeeding year Great Britain's relative naval power has steadily declined, but with the Dominions, if mind and method be one, British power can be restored and maintained. The Daily Telegraph says the speech confirms m the completest manner the high hopes raised during Mr. Bordeh'B visit, and marks a turning point in the Empire's history. WILL THE SHIPS BE A BURDEN OR AID? MEANINGLESS^AND DEROGATORY CONTROVERSY. (Received December 7, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, 6th December. The Westminster Gazette reciprocates Mr. Borden's hopo to make a practical Btatt with a real partnership. The controversy, whether the battleships would be an extra burden or an aid to the British taxpayer, was meaningless and derogatory, and a poor compliment to Canada if they were to be regarded as a mere appanage to the British Fleet. The Manchester Guardian says that colonial representation on the Defence Committee might make for a very serious breach in the theory of the executive responsibility of Parliament. The representatives might easily become the controlling power behind the Cabinet's nsval foreign policy. VIEWS OF HIGH COMMISSIONERS LONDON, 6th December. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, interviewed in referenco to Mr. Borden's scheme, Raid he hoped the Empire's naval programme would soon include stations at various import* ant points maintained by Ihe parts of the Empire to which they were adjacent. He hoped to sqg the North Pacific and North Atlantic patrolled by Canadian fleets, as the South Seas would bo patrolled by an Australian fleet, and other seas similarly patrolled, leaving to Great Britain, the Home and Mediterranean defence, with a largo share in the pro.tegtion of .tM,-tHd6_rautcß. T.hu srguljk

in no sense be a weakening of the Imperial forces, but a necessity of the national growth. Mr. T. Mackenzie, New Zealand's Hi £ ;h Commissioner, felt strongly that the time had arrived for the fifteen millions dwelling in the territory outside the United Kingdom to havo a voice in Imperial and he was confident that British statesmanship could devise tho means.