AUSTRALIA'S NAVAL POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S NAVAL POLICY.

WHEN THE AGREEMENT WILL

. TERMINATE. ' By Telegraph.—Press Association.—fopyriffht. London, May 9. The Daily Chronicle says the mainspring of Australia's new naval policy: is a spirit* of "-■■ nationalism, perhaps a little; of protectionism also, ■■>. for doubtless Australia -v. will create industries < for the building of her, own warships. -■' ■; . (Received May 10, 11.45 p.m.)*' . London, May 10. It was announced in the House of Commons ; yesterday, in connection with the Admiralty's estimates,; that since the. concurrence of the colonial. Parliaments is necessary, the Government will await formal communications from the colonial Governments before giving effect to the new decision respecting the Australasian station. (Received May 11, ir,.40 a.m.) .' ■ ,' ';'■■ • ■ ,-■•■ Melbourne, 5 May ; 10. The Acting-Prime Minister •; (Sir John Forrest), referring to-day to the decision of the Imperial Conference to terminate the naval agreement, said he thought the old agreement, excellent, but that was not to say that some other, such as Mr. Deakin. proposed, was not even better. \ Personally, he preferred that the agreement should run > its course until it expired by effluxion of time, as the machinery and the training were just getting into . working order. It was never intended by Mr. Deakin, or the Government, to interfere with the agreement, ; but the position had been-' changed by the Imperial Government, which had been so anxious for the agreement in 1902. ;It was impossible to say: till Mr. Deakin returned what would be done, or when the present system would terminate. ; The tariff question would have such a prominent place next session that it might be inconvenient at the beginning to deal with the naval question. V PRESS OPINIONS. ■ - Sydney, May 10. The Sydney Morning Herald says the scheme of naval defence submitted to" the 'Imperial Conference requires the closest consideration. While a" system of port defences is admirable it would be a most inefficient substitute for the Australian squadron.V It is plain irom Lord Tweedmouth's reply that the Admiralty would be very glad to get rid of /the agreement with Australia and New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward has wisely stuck to the old agreement, though the Admiralty has shown itself perfectly willing to let New Zealand out of the bargain as well as Australia. ;/■■ r , . The Daily Telegraph says New : Zealand will now be left by the Commonwealth, and must make her own bargain; that is the conspicuously weak feature of the new arrangement. : " •■■ :; ; : v '>- ;r "' ''-"'" \- ; v ___________—». >~ > -. - ■ POSITION OF NEW ZEALAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] j . : '. ;-; : . ■;V;,. Wellington, Friday. |' The Attorney-General - (the Hon. Dr. | Findlay) explains that the naval agreement ! which was entered into three years ago for !a •'! period of ten years ; binds the Imperial 1 Government, the Commonwealth, and New- ! Zealand in a contract/ which cannot bo determined without the consent of the three contracting parties. Unless, therefore, the New* Zealand Parliament consents to determine the - agreement it ; must continue in force until its expiry; by effluxion of time seven years hence. If it is to bo determined the question of what is to take the, place- of tho present '; arrangement; becomes an. important one.