IMPERIAL RECIPROCITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15610, 15 May 1914, Page 4

IMPERIAL RECIPROCITY

Sir,—l have read with deep interest the splendid leader in Tuesday's Herald under the above heading, and feel sure the sentiments therein expressed will meet the hearty support of every thinking and reasonable man in the Overseas Dominions. Loyal as we are, and proud as we shall always be, of the glorious past of the Mother Country, yet the persistent refusal of parochial Governments at Homo to enter into reciprocal commercial union with us will tend to weaken the bond between us. Add to this the disgraceful statements made by a First Lord of the Admiralty that in the event of a British reverse, or crippling of the Home fleet, our only salvation would be the protection of the United* States; then the breaking of the Admiralty's agreement of 1909, and that we must look, to Japan, an alien race, for naval defence, are enough to make our fathers, who made the Empire, turn in their graves, Let us, therefore, citizens of these invaluable Overseas Dominions, look to ourselves, steadily improve our land system of defence, and whilst still honing for the long-deferred change of policy on the part of the Home Government, cultivate the virtue of self-reliance. J. H. Skinner