CANADA'S OFFER.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1786, 11 December 1912, Page 5

CANADA'S OFFER.

AUSTRALIAN EULOGIES. (Press Association.—By Telegraph. Received 10.10 p. m. Melbourne, Yesterday. The Argus says that memorable in the history of the Empire would be the scene in the Canadian House of Common when Mr Borden declared his naval policy. It marks an imporant forward step and closer co-oper-ation between the Motherland and the Dominions in Imperial defence. "Although Canada's immediate policy," states the Argus "differs from ours in form it is essentially the same in spirit. '' More notable from the Imperial standpoint than Canada's generous offer is the Motherland's concession of the principle that such help must mean an ultimate partnership in determining any foreign policy of the Empire. "Sooner or later the fifteen millions of white British subjects of the outer Empire will have a proportionate voice in regulating international relations and the external defence arrangements of the Empire." !

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS. (Received 11.25 p.m.) Freemantle, Yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward, interviewed aboard his steamer, said Canada's offer was good on sentimental grounds. The condition that they have representation on the Imperial Defence Council was a natural accompaniment of such an offer for if the dominions were going to take a fair share in the defence of the Empire they should have a seat on the Council. An overseas representative, however, could not expect to exercise a very powerful influence in the deliberations as the population of the dominions was only fifteen millions as compared with the 45 millions of the Old Country. 4 Within a quarter of a century the dominions would have more than made up the deficit. Then they would naturally expect a much bigger representation provided they were shouldering a fair share of the Imperial burdens.