EMPIRE NAVAL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18856, 8 May 1923, Page 7

EMPIRE NAVAL DEFENCE

GUARDING THE SEVEN SEAS THE POOLING PROPOSAL. LONDON, April 25. A fleet for the British Commonwealth under centralised control, but distributed over the Seven Seas, and maintained proportionately to population by the dominions, is a proposal that will come before the Imperial Conference this year. Information from a reliable source says that the dominions’ representatives at tfto Imperial Conference will be asked to approve the scheme, which virtually abolishes the Australian Navy as an independent force. The idea is to form a gigantic Imperial/ naval “pool,” to which the dominions Will contribute financially in proportion topopuiation. The “pool” will be utilised to maintain under a central control a number of selfcontained fleets, stationed all over the Empire. The Australian Navy and those of the other dominions will retain their identity in their own waters. ‘A certain quota of ships will be included in an Imperial Pacific fleet, the main base'of which will probably be Singapore. The scheme is designed to enable the Navy to .be maintained at a higher state of efficiency, the dominions benefiting by receiving, as they are evolved, the latest types of capital ships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and monitors, in common with the Home, Mediterranean and Atlantic squadrons. The “pool” also is designed financially to relieve the British taxpayer, who now contributes £58,000,000 annually to the Navy, a sum which is regarded as excessive and inequitable. It is believed that the Admiralty has already despatched a carefully drawn up proposal to Australia, and anticipates counter-suggestions which will be thoroughly thrashed,out before the conference assembles, thus enabling the delegates to come prepared with a, well-defined and mutually acceptable scheme.

Regarding these reports the authorities recently informed the Australian Press Association that they are pure conjecture. The 'Admiralty has mad.o no statement so far, and has formulated no scheme. Its views will be placed before the Imperial Conference for discussion m co-operation with the dominions.