EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 15

EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

X.AVAL DEFENCE. LONDON, July 3. The Japanese Treaty, having been temporarily disposed of, the conference considered the naval defence question. Great Britain’s standpoint was presented first, Mr Lloyd George, Mr Chamberlain, and Mr Churchill addressing the delegates. They pointed out that while prepared to defend her outposts as far as possible, Great Britain was unable to guarantee that in time of war every dominion would be inviolate. The Mother Land did not desire to shirk her responsibilities or to unload the cost on to others, or to retract anything previously undertaken. However, the situation was complicated. The dominions were once colonies, and before that they were mere settlements. Now they were great nations. The only way to obtain a settlement of the question was frankly to discuss with the dominion leaders what they wanted, and to discover what Great Britain couid do. The proposals made had been carefully considered for some time bv Great Britain, and confidential statements had been prepared regarding the various fighting services. These were critically examined from the point of view of Imperial defence as a whole, and co-ordinated by the subcommittee on Imperial defence, sitting under the President of the Counc'l of Defence, with the object of devising a practical scheme which would be effective in time of war. The British Government did not desire to dictate the movements of the dominion troops. That was a matter for the decision of the respective Governments. The measure of co-operation would be reflected in the subsequent discussion. Mr Hughes pointed out Australia’s dependence on sea power, outlining the efforts made for self-defence under the Henderson scheme. He intimated that the commonwealth had spent on naval defence much more than all the other do minions put together; yet the Australian navy was not sufficiently effective to defend her. There was even a plan of campaign so far as he knew. Australia depended for her existence upon Britain's control of the seas, yet Britain declared she was unable to maintain a navy of relative pre-war strength. The dominions should accept their share of responsibility. Australia was ready to shoulder her share. It is understood that Mr Hughes pat forward certain proposals on the lines already cabled. It seems likely that a heavy subsidy will be suggested provided adequate strength is maintained in the China squadron and anotlier force- with a hase in Australia, New Zealand co-operat-ing with the existing ships of the commonwealth fleet, which will be kept in a state of efficiency. Facilities for dockyard re-fitting bases will also be set out, together with a statement of the amount spent on preparatory work under the Henderson scheme, and an estimate of the sum required to complete it. It is understood that Mr Hughes is determined not to commit Australia to expenditure until the proposals have been submitted to Parliament. In addition to the usual delegates the following attended to-day’s sitting of the Prime Ministers’ Conference: Mr Lloyd George, Mr Chamberlain, Mr Churchill. Lord Lee (of Fareham), Sir L. Worthington Evans, Mr F. E. Guest, Mr Chas. C. BaUantvne (Canadian Naval Minister), Colonel H. Mentz (South African Defence Minister), Mr E. S. Montagu, Lord Beatty, Eield-Marshal Wilson, Air-Marshal Sir H. M. Trenchard, Admiral Grant. A communique states that Sir L. Worthington Evans, Mr F,__ K. Guest, and Sir H. M. Trenchard dealt with the developments and potentialities of defence, after which there was a short discussion, the Minister and experts answering questions. Certain subjects were remitted to the departmental committees for furthet consideration. Mr Lloyd George is entertaining the Dominion Premiers at Chequers Court during the week-end BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL. LONDON, July 5. Tri connection noth the Prime Ministers’ Conference, it is stated on authority that the British Government desires the dominions to contribute one fourth of the cost of the upkeep of an Empire Navy of relative pre-war standard, the cost to be divided on a population basis. No pressure is being exerted, but the proposal is put forward as a basis for discussion. Canada, Africa, and India are not keen on account of financial stress. It is reported that Mr Hughes has asked as a minimum that a naval force be maintained at the China station and m the Pacific sufficiently strong to hold off any enemy for one month, so as to enable the Empire to mobilise its main fleet. The Australian navy is unequal to the task, and future development on present lines is too s’ow and costly to give a guarantee of safety. He stresses the quick obsolescence of warships, and suggests that it is preferable to draw the units from one central depot, the dominions providing a harbour and docking facilities. Mr Massey said be strongly supported Mr Hughes, but both maintain the utmost sacrecyEMPIRE GO M M U X T C A TI O N S. LONDON, .Tulv b. Sir Halford Mackinder, writing to the Press, pleads for the retention of British airships in the interests of communication between Britain and Australasia. He says that on one hand there is need for the most rapid, and therefore the costliest, transport for malls and for a few import

ant passengers. On the other hand, it is essential for the quick development of these thinly-populated lands that there should be the cheapest carriage outward. First class passengers and mails could travel by airship. Mr Hughes, speaking to-day before the Conference, said that the vital need at present was closer communication between the Dominions and England and between the Dominions tljemeelves. The Empire was a collection of free nations, distributed widely. It was a remarkable fact, he said, that just as this free, greatpeople had faced the question of closer association, applied science and engineering knowledge developed a most effective and elastic means of communication to a stage where it was commercially practicable to exchange views between any two points of the globe. Future developments, continued Mr Hughes, would certainly add to the existing benefits, and would aid the possibility of carrying the human voice ail round the world. Wireless would connect the far-flung Empire with greater ease and with less expense than was involved in connecting all parts by submarine cables. The ability of the Dominions and the Crown colonies to communicate directly with the heart of the Empire was the only concrete action towards stabilising the practical unitv of the Empire without infringing upon that full measure of freedom which was essential for all. Wireless would supply this political need rapidly and cheaply. Political stability would also be largely strengthened according to the degree in which Great Britain understood the affairs and appreciated the special problems of the other parts of the Empire, also according to the degree of _ their social and commercial relationships. Mr Hughes continued:—“The only effective avenue through which a mutual understanding can be gained is that of the Press, and the only practical means for a wide distribution of news is by means of high-power wireless stations. The social and commercial relationships of several British communities would be most easily extended and improved by cheap and easy means of communication than by any other method. This brings me to a point upon which it Is impossible to iay too much emphasis. The most important factor in the modern world is public opinion. The voice of the people cannot be ignored, and the opinion of the people on any question is largely dependent on the facts placed before them through the press. _ Public opinion is a dominant factor in determining the future of our wide Empire, which itself is a world within a world. Nothing strikes a visitor from the Dominions and India more than the meagre information about his own country in the British Press. Even in Australasia the news from Great Britain and other parts of the Empire precludes a citizen from forming an accurate opinion of those matters upon which his prosperity and very existence depend. The cause of this is largely to be found in the excessive rates charged by the cable companies, who stand at the toll gates through which the news passes, exacting such heavy tribute as to reduce traffic to an irreducible minimum. The cable rates between Australia and England range from 7?d to 9s a word, vet one Australian news service spends more than £15,000 a year, while the English newspapers probably spend twice as much. In' the 'circumstances no one ought to wonder that British opinion is so ill-informed regarding tlio real position in Australia or the reverse. The Empire rests on public opinion, sentiment, material interest, and a sense of security. It should also rest on informed public opinion based on a knowledge of the wide-sundered parts.” Mr Hughes elaborated his argument at great length, stressing the development of communications in other countries, especially the use of wireless and airships, concluding bv suggesting that if a motion were submitted at a later stage it might be in the following form: “That each Dominion here represented pledges itself to establish direct wireless communication between the United Kingdom and other Dominions at the earliest moment, and to maintain such communications on an efficient commercial basis, so that the whole Empire shall be linked by wireless stations, which will be immediately available for strategic use when required.” The Conference appointed a committee consisting of Mr Churchill (chairman), and one representative from each Dominion and India, to meet in consultation with British Ministers to consider the practical means available at the present time for the development of Imperial communications by land, sea, air, cable, radio, telegraphy, and telephony. MR MASSEY’S VIEWS. LONDON, July 6. Mr Massey, speaking at the Conference on the subject of inter-imperial communications, emphasised ijt o paucity of the dominions news in the British press, which was inadequate for the purposes of educating the people of Great Britain on overseas matters. He expressed the opinion also that it would be impracticable to conduct Imperial discussions with the dominions or amongst the dominions themselves by wireless telegraphy or telephony because of the lack of secrecy and the impossibility of conducting satisfactorily a discussion in code. The improvements in communications for a considerable time to come must be made upon the basis of steamships, railways, and cable communications. It was not practicable, at present at all events, to think of rapid communications with Australia and New Zealand by aeroplane in all seasons and weathers. Mr Massey urged the necessity for a minimum of 16 knot boats for mails and passengers between New Zealand and Great Britain, via the Panama, which would accomplish the

journey under 30 days. Even if this arrangement required a subsidy it ought to be done. The mail services were very bad and had not improved since the war. He had expected better results from the Imperial Shipping Committee, but shipping freights were now so high that with the lower prices in some instances producers in New Zealand were receiving practically no profits. Mr Massey instanced the case of a recent shipper of beef to London who sustained the loss of a halfpenny per pound after paying freight expenses. It would be impossible to keep up the beef trade with England unless freights were reduced. Improved communications, whether by post, wireless, cable, or steamer, would help to strengthen the bonds of Empire and were worthy of every encouragement. He sawno objection to setting up a committee of representatives of the Empire to inquire regarding communications, but unless something more was attempted than had been done in the past, it was not worth the trouble. E MIG R A TlO X PR OP OS ALX LONDON, July 6. The conference met the Treasury and discussed reparations. No decision was reached. It is understood that Mr Hughes and Air Massey are not displeased with the proposed basis of distribution for Australia and New Zealand. It is reported that the British Crown colonies are taking 80 per cent., the balance being spread over India and the dominions. The Emigration Committee reported favourably on the Government proposals. Australia and New Zealand are willing to co-operate with the British Government in the matter of assisted passages, and also in financing lans settlers. Canada is passively acquiescent and South Africa is standing out, being opposed to encouraging immigrants without capital. EGYPT’S ASPIRATIONS. LONDON, July 7. At the Conference, after Lord Curzon’s introductory statement regarding British relations in Egypt and the Milner Mission, Air Hughes opened a discussion, to which Mr AJeighen, General Smuts, Mr Massey, Air Churchill, Mr Balbour, and Mr Lloyd George contributed. The Conference decided that the proposals for meeting Egyptian national aspirations and safeguarding Imperial interests, now under consideration by the British Government, should be discussed in detail at a later date by the Dominion Prime Ministers and representatives of India. This was 'decided on, in view of the expected arrival of the Egyption Delegation, which is now on its way to England. GERMAN REPARATIONS. LONDON, July 7. The Allied Conferences at Spa, Paris, and London decided that the amount of the German reparation money coming to the British Empire should be 22J, per cent, of the total available. The Imperial Conference is now discussing the quota to be received by each dominion. AN GLO- JA PA ME S E T R EATY. LONDON, .July 7. The interval between the general discussion and detailed argument on the Anglo-Japanese Treaty is being occupied by the experts in framing modifications to be submitted when the matter is resumed, It is stated on good authority that the military phases are being qualified without destroying their effectiveness. It is understood that views are being exchanged with America, indicating the nature of the proposals which there is reason to believe are likely to be acceptable to Washington. If so, and Japan agrees, all the interested parties will' be in accord, and Air Meighen’s opposition will be withdrawn. It is too early to say whetner the obstacles are disappearing, but the opinion in official circles is distinctly hopeful that a satisfactory entente settlement will be reached. There is strong opposition by China’s representatives in London against the renewal of the Treaty. The case for China is being ably put before the delegates to the Conference, the claim being that China should be represented with the other powers at a, round table conference to discuss the whole situation. In the House of Commons Air Lloyd George stated that he hoped to make a statement on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance on Monday. A premature declaration would interfere with the success of the negotiations, which were now proceeding. PACIFIC NAVAL DEFENCE. LONDON, July 1. The Australian Press Association 'learns that India is prepared to contribute to the naval defence of the Pacific Eastern waters provided certain concessions are made in regard to equal treatment and the status of Indians in the dominions. Both Mr Hughes and General Smuts realise the importance of an amicable settlement on the latter question, and probably an agreement will bo reached acceptable to all parties. It is understood that the T ndians will hold commissions in ships commissioned at India’s expense. AIR MASSEY’S RESOLUTIONS. I,ON DON, July 7. Air Massey brought up the following resolutions at the Prime Ministers’ Conference : (1) That in order to maintain satisfactory connections, and at the same time to encourage commercial and industrial relations between the different countries of the Empire, this conference is of opinion that the .shipping on the principal routes, especially between the heart of the Empire and the overseas dominions—including India, should be brought under review by an Inter-Imperial Board on which the United Kingdom, the dominions and dependencies should be represented.

(2) That for this purpose an Imperial Investigation Board representing the various parts of the Empire be appointed with power to inquire into and report upon all matters connected with ocean freights. Also to report on the shipping facilities and all matters connected with the development of sea communications between different parts of the Empire, with special reference to the size and type of ships and the capacities of the harbours; the board to include in addition to representatives of the Governments concerned, persons with expert knowledge of the problems involved, including representatives of shipping and trading interests. Mr Alassev said that these matters were discussed' in 1918, and there was every indication then that they would oe considered as urgent, but apparently nothing had been done. The report presented to the Conference was one of the most colourless documents he had ever seen. He intended to bring the matter up again. PRIAIE AIIXISTER TO MAKE A STATEMENT. LONDON, July 8. In the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George explained that his proposed Parliamentary statement in reference to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance depends upon the receipt of replies from the United States, Japan, and China. The Daily Chronicle states that the conference favours Anglo-Japanese friendship being harmonised with free development in China, in close co-operation with the United States. The Nation says: Not for the first time in recent years the inert, poorly-led democracy of this country has reason to be grateful to the dominions—or some of them. They have imposed a check on the Government’s intention to renew the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Before the stubborn resistance of Canada and the powerful influence of South Africa the Prime Alinister has been driven to accept delav as a middle course. Canada made it clear that she would contract herself out of the treaty if it were renewed. The risk of driving Canada into independence- should deter us from renewing the treaty. EQUALITY OF CITIZENSHIP. LONDON, July 8. The morning session of the conference was occupied with Indian affairs. Air Cutch Sastri stated rhe case for equality of citizenship within the Empire. He admitted the right of the dominions to restrict immigration, but opposed invidious discrimination between Indians and other British subjects. He expressed satisfaction with the first instalment of Indian self-government, and hoped it would develop into a full dominion government. Mr A. J. Balfour followed with an exposition of the League of Nations, which had already proved of incalculable advantage to the participating nations. The league was destined to become the greatest instrument of peace in the world. LEAGUE OF NATIONS CRITICISED. LONDON, July 8. The Imperial Conference this morning was attended by officers of the Colonial Office, Messrs Hughes and Alassev, and also representatives of the Foreign Office, to discuss the New Hebrides and the failure of the Condominium. Mr Hughes put forward a proposal for consideration by the British Government, and Air Churchill promised to bring the idea before Cabinet with a view to future discussion. It was agreed that Air Hughes, who is visiting France, should take up the question with the French Government, after conferring again with the Colonial and loreign Offices. It is understood that his suggestion is on the lines already cabled by Air Fisher. The British delegates to the League of Nations Council also attended the Imperial Conference to-day and explained the position as to the league’s progress and outlook. A short discussion followed, all the Prime Ministers participating. The tone of some of the speeches was almost hostile, the opinion being expressed that unless there were signs of improvement the league was a useless extravagance. Later Mr Sastri made a statement on behalf of the Government of India. The Premiers’ Conference was not unanimous regarding the League of Nations. Air Balfour and General Smuts are enthusiastic, Air Aleighen optimistic, Air Hughes pessimistic, and Mr Alassev mildiy sympathetic towards Air Sastri’s demand on behalf of Indians for equality of citizenship within the Empire, including the dominions and colonies. That matter was referred to a committee, representing Parliament, the Colonial Office, and the India Office, to report to the conference.