IMPERIAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11856, 21 May 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

CANADA'S REPRESENTATION. (Press A^sn.— By Telegraphs-Copyright) OTTAWA, May 20. Correspondence between the Karl, of Crewe (Secretary of State lor the ■ Colonies) and! Earl Grey (Governor-General of Canada) published in Ottawa shows - that Canada's acceptanoe of the Imperial Defence Conference was grudging, and | almost extorted by Lord Orewe's skilful manoeuvring. •-;•.- • ■ ';■■■ Lord Crewe transmitted an , invitation by the British Premier, as president ■of the Conference., to the* . Canadian "Premier. '-■ . ■■■"-,• ..; :■'■:■::, Earl Grey replied that the. Canadian Ministers were without sufficient; information to warrant their advising, as was necessary, fiuch Vformil . . conference in advance of the conference, of 1911, and thattwo Canadian Ministers .would, leave shortly to discuss ■..■with: the /Admiralty the best methods ; of carrying out the resolutions of Parliament,-. but ■■ were ; -quite willing to defer their, visit .until July, if the Imperial authorities preferred-;. Lord Crewe replied expressing the Ira ' perial Government's, gratification at the readiness of the to participate in the conference. , t Replying to questions in relation to the. Imperial Defence Conference, the Premier (Sir Wilfrid Lautier), In the Dominion House- of Commons, said that he was aware that 7 the resolution cojv! cerning the >nucleus of a Canadian navy as » contribution to the defence . of the. Empire had' not . given satisfaction to certain sections of Canadian^- opinion; The .more 'advanced ' section 'fayored a money contribution to the 'United Kingdom to strengthen the navy. With that' he did not agree. Be realised that Canada, should a«t fairly and squarely, and, as far as possible, .provide for her own defence. After., the resolution had, been passed he informed the Imperial naval authorities that he thought it would not be wise for the Canadian navy to be part of the Imperial navy, but that 'any action taken should be in accordance with iile Admiralty's views. While the correspondence was in progress the invitation/to the subsidiary conference in. July was received. Sir Wilfrid Latirier admitted^ in reply to a question, tliat he acquiesced in the last despatch. • SPEECH BY SIR WILFRID .;-.-. -laurier, . •;,,: vOTTAWA, March 29. Sir v Wilfrid Laurier, speaking >in the House of Commons' this afternoon, d& clared that he would . Btump Canada, beginning at Quebec, if noceo.sary to impress on the people tliat the 'Stability , of tHei,r .institutions and laws" and vtheir liberty -was 'dependent on- th,e ,maintenance ; pf the British EmpireJ He added : "While, w« have done much to. advance the Militia since '15Q2 a we have hot) done much .in. the. way- oh naval defence, and the time Jias <jome toVtakei.actiop.. Our plan should be to establish a Tiucteua navy.. We must; proceed ■■■-as \yith the Alilitia, and . cohfer ;Avith tße > Imperial D«f ence Committee ; ahd * organise a plan to be carried out in Canada, with our resources : and ; our own men.- Perhaps in building a great navy- G«rmihy ib' bxtt preparing to do to Grejit Britain at sea what she -?did . to France on landi and <no British fiUbject can -aiford to be indifj ferent to such a prosiject. . But though tlio danger is not imminent; wo niust be vigilant. England is the only nation wliich has not iost her head among the armed camps of Europe. British premacy on 'th-d sea' must, however, be maintained, and should a day of trial come it will be the duty of her daugh-ters-to rally round the Motherland." Tho Premier then njoved, "That this House recognises that it is the duty of the people of Canada; to assume a large measure of the responsibilities; of national defence. The payment of a stated contribution not being a fintisractory solution of the question of defence, the House cordially approves expenditure to organise a Canadian naval service, to co-operate with „ the' Impef iaj \ navy^ along the line? ; sug;jested by- ttfe Admiralty at the last Imperial Confer,ence, lii fast^sympathy with the view, that the naval supremacy . of Great. Britain is essential to the safety of thl Empire and the peace; of the world, the House expresses the opinion that^whehever rieifessary' the. Canadian will bo foiind ready arid willing to give the Imperial authorities the niost loynl and hearty ■co-operation in every movement for ; the maintenuncq of the integrity and honor of tlie Empire'." '