EMPIRE DEFENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 17 April 1914, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE

QUESTIONS FOR MR CHURCHILL OX BEHALF OF AT'sTRALIA.

(Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received April 16. 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, 4pril 16.

Mr Arthur Lynch, in the II HUSO of Cojrmons. asked Mr C hurchill whether the Admiralty's policy constitutes a violation of the naval agreement of 1909 ; whether the modifications of the agreement were undertaken after ibe submission of the propositi* to the Commonwealth. and with the concurrence of the M mister of Defence ; whether lie.' had received Senator .Milieu's communication; whether ilr Churchill contemplates the possibility of Australia's defenee depending on Japanese ships; and whether Australia attitude in insisting on the ISO 9 agreement will produce a corresponding modification of the Admiralty's policy. The answers have been postponed until Mr Churchill returns. CANADA AND THE NAVY. OTTAWA. April 16. Debating the Budget, Mr Lemienx referred to the Navy question, and said it was gratifying to know that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's position at the Imperial Conference in 1911 was the position t<» which the Australian Government adhered to-day. He quoted Senator Milieu in proof of his statement. Mr Lemienx demanded to know why the Conservatives, whose loud protestations of loyalty were heard everywhere, refused ts increase the British preference when requested to do so by the wheat-g row in g provinces. Canadian newspaper correspondents, commenting on the Australian naval utterances, state that there is no evidence that Canada, is ready for a Naval Conference. The Government is not disposed to develop a oernianent policy until it fulfils its promise to give Great Britain three Dreadnoughts.