THE PACIFIC & THE NORTH SEA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 77, 1 April 1914, Page 6

THE PACIFIC & THE NORTH SEA

People who are endeavouring to put the most hostile construction upon the difference between the Admiralty and the New Zealand Government forget that a variance in methods is not> always a dissimilarity in aim. We have endeavoured to show that the short view of the Admiralty— which takes the strategic situation as it is, and therefore concentrates its sea power— and the long view of Australasia— which looks to the future of the Pacific and the eventual necessity of white ships there— are compatible; and that both are necessary, each in its separate star. The Admiralty cannot afford to neglect the present naval situation in European waters, any more than we can remain passive to the great future of the greatest ocean of all. There is no real conflict between the two standpoints, and most of Mr. Churchill's recent speeches show a recognition of Dominion ambitions and the need of stimulating national interest by pride of possession. That there should be at the outset some overlapping between different methods directed to a common goal is only to be expected, and in this case it finds its immediate expression in the position of the gift ships. In yesterday's issue appears a broad-minded article from The Times, which objects to the absorption of the battle-cruiser New Zealand into the British naval programme, thus relieving the Home taxpayer but not adding to the Empire's naval strength. "Technically justified," says The Times, "it is radically opposed to every' principle of Imperial solidarity." This divergence of technicality from principle—or, rather, of immediate strategy from ultimate policy — is the key to the situation ; and the reconciling of the two methods, and tho converging of both to one course, will require time. But the growth Of rival interests in the Pacific will probably hasten the development to a degree far beyond present anticipations. Meanwhile, the Admiralty might make a start by at any rate treating the gift -ships as extras. The present policy, as The Times points out, "may be sound and necessary strategy, but its effect upon Imperial interests is deplorable." The Post holds no brief for the party which, while abetting armed resistance in Ulster, denies that it has tempted the army and defied the law ; but one thing is fairly certain, namely, that, in dealing with the gift ships, the Unionists would have acted with more Imperial wisdom than has yet beennshown by the Liberal Government.