NAVAL REQUIREMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 399, 17 May 1922, Page 5

NAVAL REQUIREMENTS.

ATTITUDE OF ADMIRALTY. CONTRIBUTION FROM DOMINION* By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received May 17. 9.10 a.m. LONDON, May 15. The cabled announcement of the New Zealand Defence Minister’s attitude on Lord Lee’s speech raises the question of the initiative. The Admiralty hitherto, respectful to Dominion susceptibilities, has hesitated to make the first move, hoping the Dominions would take the initiative. It is now considered likely that following the New Zealand bint, a memorandum will be drawn up setting out the requirements following the Washington Conference. This naturally is most confidential and will doubtless receive the Premier’s attention after his return. —United Service, WHAT MR MASSEY SAID. “NEW ZEALAND WILL DO ITS SHARK.” “New Zealand prill do iis share,” said the Prime Minister at Wellington last week in the course of a brief reference to naval defence. The Imperial Conference of 1921 bad udirmed the necessity for co-operation among the States of the Empire in providing such naval defence as might be essential for security. Mr Lloyd George bad said at the conference that the United Kingdom could not go on bearing the whole cost of the Imperial Navy. The Prime Ministers, including Mr Massey him. self, had agreed that the Dominions should take their share of the burden. .Mr Massey added that the adjustment of the naval defence policy necessarily had been left over until after the Washington Conference, The Prime Ministers who were present at the Imperial Conference of 1921 could not have laid down exact plans, since it was- obvious then that the naval policy would have to be considered in the light of the outcome of the conference on disarmament. The matter would come forward at the next Imperial Conference. The final decision as far as New Zealand was concerned would rest with the New Zealand Parliament, but as be had said in the House of Representatives last session, he did not doubt for a moment that the Dominion would do its duty.