THE NAVAL QUESTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14577, 16 July 1909, Page 4

THE NAVAL QUESTION

mO ■ WHAT WILL NEW ZEALAND DO? face to pace" with the POSITION. (From Our Own Cobrespoxdekt.) LONDON, May 28. Quite a flutter was caused in the journalistic world of London this weak by a new and striking departure on the part of The Times. On Empire Day the pioneer newspaper brought out a supplement of 72 pages dealing in. the most' comprehensive way with imperial questions. It is, in reality, a symposium of opinion from qualified sources on the problems that face the Empire at tlie point of its existence when the foundations of its future as tho arbiter cf world-politics for centuries to come Jiavo to be laid. Mr Chamberlain, for example, contributes an interesting letter .on the position of tho Empire; Viscount Milner discusses the meaniiy of Imperial, preference; Mr W. V. Reeves traces the history of Imperial Conferences; Dr G. R. Parkin, the function of tho great English universities in the Empire, and so forth. Our own country takes of necessity a prominent position in all these discussions.' All writers shower gratitude upon her, and most of them discuss seriously her unique position in the groat Empire scheme. There is an excellent article- on the poetry of Australia and Now' Zealand) But where space is limited' it would bo vandalism to devote it to anything apari from tho overwhelming question which confronts Now Zealand io-tlay. The development of Imperial affairs during the last few months, and tho position New Zealand has adopted, make it incumbent'upon our politicians to look farther ahead, to forgo the youth which is our right and make a decision now which the generation after next win not condemn—a decision, in. short, which will rank New Zealand with hot big brothers. A few wedts ago this might have been diflioulf.. -To-day English opinion on Imperial matters has so altered that it will be easy (or us to conserve at once the interests of tho present and the future. MR CHAMBERLAIN'S GRATITUDE. In his letter in The Times Mr Chamberlam says: "The recent offer of New Zealand, which, in my opinion, has been received somewhat ungraciously by the present Government, is a new ■ feature with which in future we. have to deal. Have we considered what it amounts to? The latest census shows the population of Neiv Zealand to he little more than 1,000,000, ami, according to recent estimates, a single Dreadnought costs two millions sterling; so that New Zealand voluntarily offers. to maintain the standard of the supremacy of the British race by a contribution of ii 2 a head, equal to some £80,000,000 if translated by the corresponding i;opulatioii of this country. Such an. oflbr' is not only munificent in itself, bnt it shows clearly the price that our Dominions place on the maintenance of the present- standard of naval defence, and its importance to them as well as to ids." WHAT NEW ZEAL-ANDERS THINK. An, interesting contribution to the discussion is contributed by a native-born Now Zealauder, who traces the growth of feeling on the naval question anil its probable trend .in the future. Oi tho former he remarks: "Ho fair as tho subsidies to the imperial navy are concerned, the farmers, who are mist directly interested in tho inviolability of our ocean highways, have always been the prime movers, ior litany years past they have regularly urged the inoreaw of the subsidies, while the native-born, as a class, lntvo had 110 ideas on the subject. Until recently the Lafcour party aud the Socialists have been irankly Jiostiie- to any form of naval or military expenditure, partly because they object to • militarism,' and partly becituw they desire to see all piridic moneys expanded on tho spot, wheto they can participate in the benefits." The contributor's remarks upon the prosent position raise a (juestion which ought to be given careful consideration just now, especially as New Zealand is suddenly called upon to decide not for the moment, but for generations ahead—viz., wheiher tho policy of the Go\-erniikiit is tho poiiey that will appeal to tho New Ztalandeis of the near future. He says: "It -would be a grave mistake to presume ioo far upon a 'continuance of New Zealand's present attitude. . . . New Zealand to-day is in a rapid transition from the origin/i! colonial state to the national state. Every year tho native-born, who now number 70 per cent, of the tolal population, take a more prominent part- in the councils of the Stale., Every year questions of Imperial importance, will tend to be consklered wave and more m 10speet lo their bearing upon I ho vtlfa.ro of tho individual State., With tho increase of the native-born there will be a growing insistence .that the economic necessities of the country, as a self-con-tained entity, thai! not be subordinated even lo Imperial considerations. The prosent policy of New Zealand towards the navy is ee-wntiaHy an immigrant policy. It makes no provision whatever for that active and persona! co-operation in naval defence which is (lie right and the necessity of a young- maritime nation. Tlio paymc.it of a. yearly contribution and the making of occasional gifts-that is New Zealand's share in the imperial co-opera-tion. In the eyes of a young nation, proud of its maritime traditions and elated with its success on the seas, there is nothing to redeem this arrangement from the status of tribute-money. The future gives promise of a very decided changes in fooling'. New Zealand is waiting to-day, sympathetically _ and expectantly, for tho burden of universal military training. The New Zealanders arc a maritime people by every circumstance—of heredity, of necessity, of practice. Wo occupy in the Pacific the position that England decs in the Atlantic, emphasised. ... Is it conceivable that a people so situated can respect for an indefinite period a. defensive compact to which it is a mute, passive party? The payment of subsidies is the crudest and most elementary form of co-operation. If may be loyalty lo tho Empire, but it is frank disloyalty to I ho New Zealand™ of tho future, to (he generations who will expect to survive by their own strength, to be free b.-cause they can preserve their own freedom. It is disloyally, too, to the economic duty of defending by our oivn hand the institutions and the mercantile interests which have been erected out of our own resources. A LOCAL NAVY. " So far the New Zealand Government has _ studiously kept pace with public opinion, leading it occvionally, but never outstripping it. But public opinion is developing now faster than ever before, tinder entirely new influences, and it is practically certain that it will demand either forthwith a fuller and more active co-operation in the Imperial navy or, in the near fulure, a. naval establishment of its own, . . . Already both State and private companies in New .Zealand have advanced in their marine institutions far beyond complacency with present naval agreement. Besides tho Newfoundlanders, wo are tho only really maritime nation amongst the oversea States. Yet our connection with tiie Imperial navy is founded purely on tho unstable basis of sentiment and upon the payment of a yearly tribmlo. There is a cloud the size of a man's hand on the horizon of the Pacific which forbids any self-respecting people, any who value their future independence, to repose their faith in , any but themselves. Wo wish earnestly to bo living partners in iho British navy, but I am convinced we will never for any length of time consent to bo passive partners. It is essential for our very oxistflnce thai we should commence to-day to lay the foundations cf a power that will render us immune from anv alien menace in the future. That can be done by allowing us to participate with men and brains and ships in the Imperial navy. It can never be achieved so long as our co-operation ends with a money payment." NAVAL EXPERT'S OPINIONS. The Honxs of a Dilemma. That the naval expert of The Times has also become quite a convert to the policy of local naval forces is evident from his use of a trite remark by Lord Milner.— "It is not a question of shifting burdens, but of developing fresh centres of strength." The expert says: "It is no mean thing already to be a citizen of the Dominion of Canada or of the Commonwealth of .Australia, or, indeed, of any of the great self-governing colonies. It wil be a much greater thing in the future. But it will never bo so great a thing as to be a citizen of the British Empire, the inheritor of all its great and inspiring traditions, the sharer of all its historic achievements and renown. For this reason it is at once juster and more fitting in all respects to regard any share that tho dominions oversea may take in the common defence cf the Empire, not as the discharge of an obligation, but rather as the exorcise of a privilege—the privilege of common citizenship in an Empire which has dono so much for us sil, and is for that reason entitled to the common service of all." Though New Zealand's method of assistance has now been practically ruled out of'

the discussion, iho young Dominion is still reaping a full harvest of eulogy in Imperial | circles: "It may well be," remarks the naval export, " that tho moment whe.i Now Zealand, giving a noble lead to the whole Empire, offered lo provide a Dreadnought for tho service of the Imperial Navy, and two if necessary; will in tho long perspective of history- come to be regarded as one of the decisive moments of tho Empire, and the offer itself as one of those great ' architectonic acts which will have determined the structure of the Empire for many generations to come." And Tho Time's j says editorially:—" Warmly as we welcome and greatly as \vc value the impulse which i has prompted New Zealand and the three ! Australian States to show themselves thus actively determined to add their resources to those of the Mother Country in resisting any possible challenge to British supremacy at sea, we look for future, co-oporation in that purpose rather to the development of local resources in men and material which the Commonwealth and Dominion Government:! have declared to be their aim." AN OUT-OF-DATE POLICY. In face of tho hundred and one remarks of this sort which are uttered daily in all quarters, New Zealand may well reflect upon the polioy of the future. Even England, in its thinking sections, regards the naval subsidy system as a thing of the past. The naval expert, in his article, says :—" Whatever is dono must assuredly be done with the full concurrence and assent of the Government and people of New. Zealand. But it cannot bo denied that to accept the offer in the precise form in which it was made would be to bring both New Zealand and the Mother Country face j lo face with a very perplexing dilemma. I If, on the other hand, the ships in question were' to be regarded merely as substitutes for shi]>3 which tho Molher Country would otherwise have to lay down, than' wo tret back once more to what Lord Milner called a | mere 'shifting of burdens,' and discard altogether tho much more fruitful idea of 'developing fresh centres of strength,'" THREE SUGGESTIONS. Tho three courses which are ■ suggested as practicable for Imperial co-operation are:—First, that tho Dominions should eontribute in • such proportion as seems good to them towards the cost of the Imperial navy; secondly, that they should,.seek to develop, from however small beginnings, an indigenous navy of their own—indigenous, that is, in personnel, in the cost of material and its maintenance,—and, so far as may bo compatible with the larger requirements of Imperial strategy in tho control of the local force; thus' provided and maintained, but at Iho samo time associated as closely as possible with the Imperial navy at large,' and interchangeable with tho latter in respect, of personnel to the very fullest extent that may be practicable; thirdly, that they should undertake, to such extent as may scorn good to them, tho establishment, maintenance, equipment, development, and local defence of such harbours, docks, coaling stations, and naval bases within their respective territories as may bo shown by comprehensive survey-of tho strategic requirements of the -Empire to bo necessary to tho effective action of the Imperial navy in all tho seas of. tho jlobo. "Tho first way," we are told, "has been in use for many years, hut its popularity is now, for a good many reasons, on the wane. It amounts at beet merely to a shifting of burdens, and makes little, if at alf, for the development of fresh cadres of strength. New Zealand seems still to prefer it, and there is little sign ss yet that the South African colonics arc dissatisfied with it. But if the deliberations of tho coming conference should show New Zealand a better way it cannot bo doubted that. slic_wst.il her over-ready response to the patriotic call of Empire, will bo among tho first to tread it." It is earnestly to be hoped that. Sir Joseph Ward, or whoever comes to represent Now Zealand at this conference, will come absolutely untrammelled as to past policy and prepared to aeoent. if he cannot propose, a system of Imperial eo-ororation which will be eo-opbraiicn and not mere tribute-money, and so will appeal to tha respect of tho next generation. Some day Now Zealand is bound to be a maritime power. AN EMPIRE DINNER. Mis Hall-Jom;s ! s Speech. The diuncir of the Royal Colonial Institute on Friday was naturally rather colourless whin compared with the other function —the Australasia dinner—at which Lord Charles Boresford spoke. Your correspondent could not help being struck: by the hesitating menner in which the 'company received all references to colonial autonomy in defence. "I am convinced," said the Right Hon. Alfred Lyt.toltcn, " that tho true way to a great Imperial navy is not to in any sense cheek, but en the contrary to foster the national spirit in tho Dominions overseas. —(Faint appkiiw.) You cannot think of the national spirit unless you think at the same time of the will and the desire to make uacrifiees to maintain the national exisioiKo by arms, and I therefore am absolutely in accord, if I may venture lo say so, with Canada and Australia, who desire themselves to form their own navy.—(Again faint applause.) I. thoroughly believe in them. I am certain, speaking purely from the .point of view of the Motherland, that we shall get greater oroista.no:> and power from efforts made in this direction than from any idea of the States ol tlhe Empire becoming merely contributories to the Mother Power.—(" Hear, hear.") And I believe, as far as I hare been able to follow it. that that !.-, very mtroh the view of his Majesty's present advisers." In conclusion ho considered it absolutely necessary as part of the scheme that there should be an Imperial orcan.isa.tion by which, if war came, all the Dominion fleets would take their proper place among tho forces of the Umpire. WHAT THE COLONIES ARE THINKING. .Mr Hall-Jones is quite a popular figure at Empire functions in London, and ho has not minced matters in representing the. feeling of the oversea dominions to lug English hearers. "My lords and gentlemen," cried tho toastmaster, "pray silence for the High Commissioner of-New Zealand." Ami Mr Hall-Jones, who received a hearty welcome, proceeded to say how Imperial SSiings strikij New Zealanders. Rolen-ring to the navy, he said: "Red forbid that at any time party should come in on a question of Injperial importance. If .there is anything in tiie suggestion that Now Zealand had made its offer with a view to identifying itself with any political party or that it was done for | the purpose of assisting any ideas with regard lo fiscal reform, i should be sorry." (" Hear, hear/) I cannot understand any man calling himself a Briton who will not want to defend his home and those near I and dear to him. And that being so, what does it mean but that every man in tho jlrirish Empire will later on feel a pride and pleasure in carrying out his duly, in joining with others and taking a share in the defence of the Empire.—(Applause.) 1 know there is a difference of opinion on this question of unirerial service. I believe it has to come.—(Loud andi continued applause.) And when we apprea-eh it and deal with it in a practical, businesslike way wo will bo able to make tho best use of tho material that will be at hai:d. The timo has gone when you could raise -levies :it a moment's notice.—(" Hear, hear.") In fac-3 oi steam and electricity and what is now going on in the world, the time for mobilisation and training is too short to enable preparations to be nij.de when once t,ho operations liavo started—(" Hear, liEar.") Therefore, il is necessary for everyone to give his efforts and attention so as to be prepared. That is the greatest safeguard for any emergency or contingency that may arise. Sir, I do not think any reasonable man can raice any objection to tho aspirations of Australia and Canada to have navies of their own. I believe that, as. in South Africa they placed their men aw! money at tin disposal of tho Imperial authorities, so it would l.c, should occasion arise, if they had fleets of their own.— ' (" Hear, hear.") Tho necessity for combinedoperations is so evident that I am satisfied tlv.t any difficulties or friction that might arise maybe removed bv consultation with those at the head of affairs. At the present time there is a. greater wave of Imperialism throughout this country and the Empire than ever existed before, and I look forward with great hope to tho conference wtich is coming on. At the present time wo little realise what the future of our great Empiro will be—(Applause.)