THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC

Evening Star, Issue 12523, 6 June 1905, Page 5

THE FUTURE OF THE PACIFIC

LECTURE BY MB J.. ALLEN, M.H.R. An interesting lecture on 'The Future of the Pacific' was delivered before the High School sub-branch of the Navy Leaoue this > afternoon by Mr' James Allen, M H.R. The hnvs— a large assemblage—gathered in the Irctmre theatre at 2.15 p.m., and the lee-' turer and Mr J. Johnstone, secretary of the Otago Branch, were loudly applauded on entering. The' Rector (Mr A. Wilson, M.A.), in the course of a few preliminary -remarks, paid that the future of the Pacific Ocean wat >, question of immense importance at the firesent time. Mr Allen had been accusonied to look at this and kindred questions from the political, economic, and comtoercial points of view, and no one among them was better qualified to treat the 'subjects and indicate the future of the great ocean than Mr Allen was.—(Applause.) Mr Allen, in introducing his subject, suid that it seemed to him that if those present did not wish to 6iiffer from fatty degeneration of the Imi>erialistic and patriotic sentiments, ho would commend the League and its objects to their earnest attention, and ho desired in this connection to pay a tribute to their indefatigable secretary. Mr Johnstone had arranged the lecture, and if after it they felt that they had been benefited they could thank him; if not, they could blame the lecturer. As the rector had said, the future of the Pacific was one of the greatest questions of the day. As patriotic New Zealandera, possibly some of them felt that they led the world. (Laughter.) Well, they held a special position with reference to the Pacific Ocean at' all events. New Zealand was situated at thp southern entrance to the Pacific, standing on guard, as it were, at one end pf an ocean which covered oneIhird of the surface of the globe. The ocean was interesting to us not only from its size, but also from its configuration. The co}ony was, doubtless, onco part of a large continent now largely submerged, and the lißpfcurer then traced the land connection from New Zealand and Australia through Bab, Lpmbok. Celebes, and other islands to the Continent of Asia. The biology and geology of the ocean were next touched on Pfisfly, the two outstanding features in connee ion w.th th-se b-ing the effect of liv.ng growths on iand formations, atolls, etc. i'mfc it was of another lite that he had come to speak of—the life of human beings. We in JSlew Zea'and had a very deep interest in the Pacific. The future of the world was in the hands of those who liyedin temperate climes, nnd it seemed to hfln that Australia and New Zealand were practically the only lands south of the Tropic of Capricorn that could have a sav in the future of the Pacific. A, new Power had now arisen in the East, and he would ask the hoys to think out for themselves, in the light of history and the trend of civilisation, where the next new centre of activity would be. Somewhere, he ventured, to say, in the Pacific or on the lands bounding that ocean. Tho doings of the British in the past gave us valid rights in the Paoific. The Portuguese, who preceded us, -were gone. Spam, who followed Portugal, had no possessions worth speaking about now that America had taken the Philippines, and,the Dutch might lose their possessions. Great Britain, on the other hand, had commenced her occupation from the days of Drake, and her possessions were everywhere. As regarded her present interests an the Pacific, the lecturer referred to Canada, a fine, productive country with fine harbors but sparsdy populated. On the other side of the ocean were Australia, New Zealand, Singapore—important strategically—Hongkong, and Wei-hai-wei. Intermediate between these eastern and western groups of possessions were the Tongan f Islands. Next to Pago Pago, the Tongan Group contained what was about the finest harbor in the Pacific. Tonga was a inonarcny, and the King of Tonga had been in New Zealand a few days ago, and he Had no doubt that the Imperial Government would take steps to make our hold on these islands even more secure than it was at present, because its geographical position had an important bearing on present and future waterways. The New Hebrides were another group, partly under British and partly under French sovereignty, and they also contained some fine harbors. They were important also, because all islands lying out in the Pacific had a bearing on routes which the Panama Canal would probably open. In his opinion all these islands should be British, especially those which had good harbors.—(Ap- / phrase.) Coming back" to those Powera which had large interest in the Pacific, Ihere was no doubt that Britain had the largeit interest of them all. That was why the Jntore of the Pacific was so important to them all. They knew that Britain was dependent on the outside world, and largely on her colonies, for the major portion of her food supplies, and supplies of raw material, and the question of open waterways became one of first - rate importance. But Great Britain was not the only nntion that had to get food supplies fromoutsido. Germany was in the same posifion. trom a fourth to a fifth of the population of Germany were dependent on the outside world for their food supplies. Therefore Germany as well as Great Britain had to do something to pet and hold sources qf food supplies. Japanese shipping and irade had a>o been increasing enormously, ind when_ it was considered that there was a population of 500 millions on the eastern coasts of Asia it would be understood that Japan, now the dominant Power, had immense interests there. Japan, the United States, Great Britain, and Germany had conflicting interests in the Pacific. That which would decide the question of dominance was the power of eolonising. In that respect Great Britain had an advantage over all other competitors'. The United States had no need to colonise so far. Japan had done very well in Formosa, and lie ventured to say would make a success in Oorea and China. Germany started too late, when all the best places were occupied. Great Britain's flag was here rh*ro and everywhere. What Germany' feared was the blockade of her northern coasts, and that was why she was building a nan. She also feared that Russia would . polisp Asiatic trade and Unit America would keep South America to herself. Germany leaned, too, a British Zollverein. Germany's ambition, on the other hand, was to be the leadpr at se-> as wp'' «<=• np lurid. and some day, if she absorbed Holland and Holland's Eastern possessions, the wuuul get a great_ hold" in tho Pacific. As to the ambitions of the United States, a writer named Colquhoun had stated thai ♦ hat country was bound to become the dominant Power in the Pacific. It might he that thu view would turn out to he correct. There was a good deal to be said for it, but from our point of view there was this: The Unit-d States had not trot to go outside herself for her food supplies. Her interest in tho Pacific was mainly, a trade interest. Ours was a vital one, w ? th which the question of self-pre-remtion was bound up. .Our trade routes, maritime supremacy, coaling stations, and repairing bases were all involved What had we to look after it all 7 Only the firsT'tf S l ° from nrst to last. The-chief factors which wnuld determine the ultimate domination ot the Paeifis were, it seemed to him—first, being prepared for the event of warsecond, industrial progress and the power to work; and. third brains and thought. The last point he would speciallv command to his audience, and he counselled them to set hqW nf the best literature nn the subject and face the problem of Emnire for themselves. The qualities essential to the citizens of a great Empire had been enumerated by. Beniamin Kidd as follows- —*' Strength and energy of character, humanity, probity and integrity, devotion to the conception of duty, and the "word of mi Englishman."— f.Lond anpjausej