EMPIRE'S NAVAL PROBLEM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 76, 13 March 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE'S NAVAL PROBLEM

THE CANADIAN DEBATE

[PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.]

Ottawa, March 12.

Mr. Emmerson declared that Lord North’s mistake lost Great Britain the American colonies. It was conceivable that Air. Churchill’s latest naval memorandum might lose the Empire Canada and Australia. The people of Canada were disinclined to bow down before a Lord of Admiralty. Mr. Neely asked if Canadians w ere willing to hand over the palm of genius and self-reliance to the Australians. While the Australians were able and willing to defend the Pacific, the Canadians were told by Mr. Borden that they could not do so.

MOTHER COUNTRY’S POSITION

(Received 13, 9.0 a.m.) London, March 12.

The “Westminster Gazette” says it is unfortunate that Mr. Churchill’s memorandum can be used in the dispute between the two Canadian parties. The position of the Mother Country is that she will gratefully accept whatever Canada decides. If Mr. Borden asked how Canada could best render assistance, Mr. Churchill was bound to answer, but the last thing Britain desires is to try to force Canada' hand.

LIBERAL TACTICS CON-

DEMNED.

(Received 13, 11.30 a.m.) Ottawa, March 12.

The Conservative press throughout Canada are condemning vigorously the Liberals’ attack on Mr. Churchill’s memorandum. They point out that the Liberals were not satisfied until it had been read, and they then declared: that Mr. Borden had misled Mr. Churchill for his own purposes. One paper quotes Australian example, emphasising the heed for defence of the North Pacific. ■Mr. Borden retorts that the first duty of Canada is to aid Britain in' any manner required by the Admiralty, them turn attention to the development of a naval policy. Both sides condemn Mr. Neely’s speech, wherein he read the American declaration of Independence, declaring Canada would* follow suit, through Mr. Churchill’s mistakes.

DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC.

NEW ZEALAND NOT DOING

ENOUGH

Ashburton, March 13.

This morning, when presenting, on behalf of the Ashburton Grammar School, Devon, England, a flag to the Ashburton High School, the Premier said with regard to land defence, New Zealand was doing all that was necessary, but she was not doing enough as fair as naval defence in the Pacific was concerned. There was no reason why there should not be a fleet in the Pacific capable of dealing with an enetny that should come along. Their coasts, harbours, and trade routes werfe not sufficiently protected. The question of naval defence was one which Mr. Allen woulcl discuss with the Imperial Government.