THE EMPIRES DEFENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12790, 15 June 1912, Page 5

THE EMPIRES DEFENCE.

.'. -.— — ,'.''• . ■.'. (Press A'ssn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, June 14. At the Chambers of Commerce Congress,' the Montreal Chamber's motion oh the -question, of defence Avas Avithdrawn.. It 'is supposed to be & FrenchCanadian/Mewy^ artd claimed bhe privilege of ' keeping to the Dominion's OAvri initiative as to AA r hether help might be offered to the Empire. Mr Hedges (West Australia), m supporting the original .motion, said bhat Australia Vas carrying out a scheme of defence on a greater scale than arty other dominion had ever undertaken, and if the bth«r overseas dominions actted similarly the 2mpire would have a greater navy, and army than the most optimistic ever dreamed of: Hon. G. SAvinburne (Melbourne) moved m fav T or of the modification of the Declaration of London, and 6aid that the Congress should emphatically condeirin the proposal lest it should be reintroduced into the .British Parliament. Mr Paxton (Sydney) ' defended bhe Declaration. • The motion was carried, Mr Paxbon . being the only dissentient. A Sir T. B. Robinson (Agenb-General for Queensland), speaking at the Queensland dinner, said that Australia must have a population of ten millions to defend herself. With stronger colonies we would have a stronger Empire, and if trouble 'came we should all be of one mmd — to fight for the Motherland. (Received June 15, 10.45 a.m.) . LONDON,.^ June 14. The Manchester Guardian comments on the opposition to-' the Declaration of London as a serious and impossible attitude of party feeling. The whole history of the negotiation of the Declaration Avas a grave warning against the Foreign Office's persistent neglect of. current opinion. --------N----t-h---- n _->