COLONIAL PREMIERS IN ENGLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 7

COLONIAL PREMIERS IN ENGLAND.

THE CONFERENCE.

SCHEME OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE,

STATEMENT BY Mil IIALDANE.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION,

iress Aisocintion—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, April U. Tho Imperial Confcrenco resumed to day.

Mr f Ilaldane (Secretary 'for War) moved—"That the conference, -without wishing to commit the Governments represented to immediate action, recognises the need of developing throughout the Empire the conception of a' general staff, recruited from tho Empire forces,, and becoming tho means of fostering tho study of military science, the collecting and disseminating of military information, and undertaking the preparation of a schemo of defence on a common principle, without in tho least interfering with questions of command and administration, such staff being capable of advising the various Governments regarding the direction of ■war and military organisation throughout tho Empire." 'I'llis resolution was carried. April 24. (Received April 24, at 9.30 p.m.) Mr flnldnnc, addressing the conference, urged the desirability of the organisation of tho military forces of the Empire upon a broad, hut not a rigid pattern for common purposes. Ho suggested that tho newly-created General. Staff should bo given an Imperial character,* and bo at tho disposition of all the local Governments or Commanders-in-Otiief, furnishing advico and supplying intelligence of an expert description. He did not desire that Biioh a stulf should in tho slightest degree suggest that tho autonomous colonics must accept any direction from Home in military matters, but trained advico would bo at their disposal, Mr, Haldano furnished tho conference with papers dealing with tho strategical conditions of the Empire from a. military standpoint, emphasising throo great principles—first, tho obligation of the self-govcrniug colonies to provide {or their own local security; secondly, the duty of arranging for mutual assistance in caso of a supreme common need ; thirdly, tho necessity of maintaining our sea supremacy. Britahi was organising a territorial army for homo defcuce, also an expeditionary striking force, naval and military, designed to assist any part of tho Empire, Ho emphasised the importance of assimilating tho war organisation throughout the Empire and the. adoption of a uniform system of nomenclature. The value of-colonial help to tho Motherland woiild bo much increased if their system readily fitted into tho war organisation of tho Imperial army in the field, A highly skilled general staff alone could supply «■ common conception of essentials. .Small arms and ammunition should be of tho same pattern. There should also bo adequate reserves-and stores prepared in time of peace. It was desirable that tho autonomous colonies should obtain their ordnanco stores through tho War Office. (Received April 24, at 9.54 pm.) Mr Haldano went on to say that tho j training of officers was a very important matter. Britain was trying to create a lcsert'e of officers, If such a reserve were made Imperial it would he a great additional security to tho Empire. Tho British UeuOral Staff would cordially interchange with the colonial staffs, thus creating tin Imperial school of military thought imbued with the same traditions and accustomed to the same strategical problems. ° -Replying to Sir F. W. ISordin (Canada), Mr Ilaldane said the General Staff would not be an independent authority exercising. coutrol throughout the Jimpire, but- a training school which would'lend experts to _ the, local general staffs and receive assistance from tho colonial general staffs. Ho -hoped the colonies would send experts to confer with the General StaJF in order immediately to begin to give effect, to tho broad principle his resolution affirmed. Sir IV W. Borden viewed the scheme favourably, . ,

Mr Dcakin complimented Mr Ilaldane on his luminous exposition, and strongly urged that tho speech should bo published in full. He recognised Mr Huldane's desire not to infringe the powers st colonial Governments and Legislatures. Tho General Staff was only meant to offer expert and mature advice. • He believed that- any proposal to extend the operations of tho General Staff which would permit, the colonies to participate would be heartily welcomed in Australia. Ho fully accepted the principle of interchangeability of weapons, and approved of the principle of lntcrclißngo of units; ' hut doubted its practicability for Australia, owing to the great distance and the smallncss of the permanent force. Australia dcuircd an extended interchange of officers especially of higher standing than those hitherto seut. April 24. .(Received April 24, at 10.57 p.m.) Mr Dcakin went on to say that the relative rank of officers in the outer and inner parts of tho Empire required considcralioi). Australia was envious of Canada's progress' as regards military schools. Australia felt the weakness of her system of officers. Owing to local conditions, it, would be ° very difficult to maintain a. sufficiently regular. supply of entrants to the local military colleges. Mr Dcakin noticed that the experts advised that the colonial Governments should arrango for the local manufacture of war material and stores, rather Mian relv on the United Kingdom's resources. Ho hoped the Admiralty would encourage tho colonial ammunition factories by using their products. Australia was driven to purchase supplies from private firms because it was unable to rely on the War Office,

fur J. G. Ward supported the principle of voluntary co-opcration of the'colonial Governments ami the GeiuT.il Staff. He tbought it. would bo possible to secure a stronger and better system' of general Imperial defence. It-'would be a high idea! to try to assimilate the Empire's war organisation: He agreed that- the) should obtain ivar stores and ammunition generally through tlio War Office, ii it was understood that the colonies lmd the right to make ammunition if they were able. He recognised the importance of using the same kind of arms ami ammunition. Ho believed New Zealand could arrango for an interchange of units and officers. If a Volunteer company camo to England for tlio purposes of interchange the Now Zealand Government would probably be willing to pay,a reasonable sum. New Zealand was always willing to volunteer to assist the Motherland in the event of troubles arising, both in men and money, and was ready to do its share in tho defence of any part- of the world; bnt they wanted to keep clear of the possibility of being drawn into Continental troubles. " We want," sfiid Sir J. G. ward, a - distinct lino of demarcation

between the responsibility we accept, of our own free will and the responsibility tlmt may be placcd upon us without, our having opportunity of conference or uiscussion. Thousands would be ready to volunteer to fight- oversea."

Mr Botha thought the position of the Transvaal would be hazardous ii tlie Imperial troops were withdrawn.

Lord Tweedmouth (First Lord of tho Admiralty), explained the general principles influencing the Admiralty in the defence of the Umpire, especially insisting on the necessity of unity of control of the fleet.

MR, DEAKIN INTERVIEWED.

CRITICISM OP THE COLONIAL

OFFICE

NEW DEPARTMENT ASKED FOR, LONDON, April 23, Mr Deakin, in the course of an interview, said that the Colonial Office was sometimes obstructive, if jiofc almost hostile, and almost always unsympathetic. Tho Premiers who were acting with him wanted the business of the autonomous colonies handled 1)y different men and in a different method from tho Crown colonies. They risked for the creation of a new, small department, which, while in a certain sense some of the British-public service, was yet separated from all other offices, and, if possible, from particular British interests. Its function would "be to deal with ail important questions peculiar to tlm autonomous colonies. If tho department were under the British Prime Minister it was unlikely that he would have much time to be meddlesome, and he was pretty certain to accord sympathetic treatment, because tho department would represent, besides the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, all his fellow Premiers belonging to the conference. The Premiers offered to contribute to tho cbst- of a department of highly competent experts upon, a population or any other basis, bnt Lord Elgin and Mr Churchill opposed this. "Wo wanted men who lived in Australia, or had sufficient acquaintance with the outlying dominions, to be able to act with a knowledge of their wants. The British Government, after consideration, declined this proposal, declaring the department must be left' colonial, and in its own department." He (Mr Dcakin) sharply retorted: "We want a joint department to do our work as well ns yours." Lord Elgin's assurances respecting the constitution of the proposed secretariate were most vague and unsatisfactory, and would probably be remodelled, as the Colonial Office would soon fall into its old groove. Mr Deakin went on to say that the position of the Governor's of the colonies as the channel of communications remains unaltered. Lord Elgin's suggestion that tho Premiers must not ignore the value of the Governors as a means of communication was received in silence. The .Premiers, entertain great hopes, that t-hoy will secure all they want at the next conference, as they anticipate the present expedient will break down; but the Premiers are willing to try the expedient since its failure will deprive the Colonial Office of the main ground of its objections to the proposed change. Lord Elgin even greatly resented the presidency of the Prime Minister as a blow at the Colonial Office, which opposed anything in the nature of a secretariate and intends to minimise its importance. Air Deakin attaches importance to securing the recognition of the principle of one vote one Government, and also to the recognition of tho equality of Governments. Answering Mr Reid's criticisms, Mr Deakin said: "My original proposal was carried, excepting that the secretariate is left under the Colonial .Office, instead of the self-governing colonies, all their business and the conference being placed under the Prime Minister. The difference between Sir W. Laurier and myself is that lie wished the conference to l>e under tho supervision of the Colonial Office. I think we need no supervision in 1 bat sense by any British department. Vie ought to be responsible only to the head of the British Government, who in turn should be the only responsible Minister to deal with us."