EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15048, 18 July 1912, Page 7

EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

THE : POLICY OF CANADA. TO BUILD DREADNOUGHTS. FOR IMPERIAL AND LOCAL [ ; purposes. THE IMPERIAL OUTLOOK, By Telegraph.—Pre»« Association.— Copyright. (Received July 17, 9.50 p.m.) , . London,. July 17. j The Toronto correspondent of the Times says that judging by cablegrams received from various directions there is some misunderstanding as to the policy that Canada desires to adopt. It is not, it is understood, intended to givri any Dreadnoughts to the Admiralty, but to build Dreadnoughts at intervals of two or three years. ; ■ These vessels will, the correspondent understands, constitute an integral portion of the Imperial navy in war time, and also .be the chief vessels of the Canadian fleet if one is established. Any immediate agreement to build Dreadnoughts represents only "an emergency contribution to the Empire.' ' Beyond this proposal, -..a. permanent policy will be devised in consultation with the Imperial authorities.

Speech by Mr. Borden. I She Prime Minister of Canada (Mr. R. L. Borden) was the princii pal guest at an inaugural banquet ■ given last night by the Empire Parliamentary • Association. ; 1 The British Prime Minister (Mr. > Asquith), in a ■ letter, apologising for his absence, said that the fact of many overseas Parliamentarians joining, such an association, showed that the founders had performed a valuable work. Mr. A. Lyttelton (formerly Secretary, of State for the Colonies), who presided, - said • that with many of those present the supreme idea for 1 years had .been an Imperial navy and alongside it a voice and influence in the Council controlling the Empire's foreign relations. Mr. Borden, in responding to the toast of the "Overseas Members," j dealt with the anomalies in the Imperial system. The British Parliament, lie said, was no longer Imperial in the highest sense. Its composition was determined mainly by domestic issues with which the Overseas Dominions had no concern, and yet it controlled the Empire's relations and destinies. . . v This condition, he said, was open to little criticism so long as Britain's sea supremacy' was unchallenged or maintained by the Homeland alone because,, the Dominions of the Empire were Britain's wards. Dominions' Share of Defence. Tile time was at hand when they should be called upon to ; take a reasonable and legitimate share of the task of safeguarding the •Empire's existence. Needless to say, in a time of peril, every Dominion would respond, not less loyally and earnestly, than the Motherland herself. One realised, however, that when the day of peril arrived,; the day , for effective preparation would perhaps have passed. - A Critical Time. Those accepting a share of responsibility in the Empire's security must no longer be eon-. sidered wards by self-constituted | guardians. Canadians would never ; willingly accept such a condition. The next 10 or 20. years 'would be a critical, and possibly a decisive, period in the Empire's history. '' God grant," Mr. Borden added, " that we may never have cause to regret a neglected opportunity."