DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

Evening Star, Issue 19455, 13 January 1927, Page 7

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

CONTRIBUTIONS OF DOMINIONS STATEMENT BY MR COATES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, January 11. Mr Coates and his party arrived this evening from England, and entrained almost immediately for Montreal. In the course of a brief statement, in which he foreshadowed a gradual increase of New Zealanders’ per capita contributions for defence ' until the amount “ compares favorably with that of the Mother Country,” Mr Coates described the New Zealand navy as a “ unit of the Imperial Navy ” rather than a complete organisation in itself. He expressed agreement with Mr Bruce that the dominions must share fully the cost of Imperial defence or “accept a position of national inferiority,” CANADA’S PART. MR BRUCE’S STRAIGHT, TALK. VANCOUVER, January 12. Canada’s duty in the matter of defence in view or the equal status of all overseas dominions of the Empire was discussed by Mr Bruce before a record gathering of the Canadian Club hero last night. He said that he did not presume to dictate Canada’s policy, but he took the view: “Wo are all members of the same family, and I take the relative’s right to give my point of view.” To those who said that Canada needs no defence, ho said: “ Either they; take shelter behind their membership in the British Empire or behind the United States Monroe Doctrine. No nation with pride could occupy such a position.” PRIME MINISTER RETICENT. OTTAWA, January 12. (Received January 13, at 11.40 a.m.) The Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King) refused to comment on the statement made in Ncv York by Mr Coates that the dominions must assume their full share of defence or accept a position of national inferiority. He was also reticent concerning Mr Bruce’s statement at Vancouver that Canada must buy more from Australia if ,the present treaty was to be continued in force.