IMPERIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 17244, 15 January 1913, Page 2

IMPERIAL NAVAL DEFENCE.

CANADA’S GIFT. (From Our Own Correspondent). LONDON, December 6. To-day's papers arc full of Canada’* present of three super-Dreadnoughis to the Imperial Navy, and the man-in-tha street is talking of little else. The leaders in most of the journals, Liberal and Tory, brim over with admiration for Canadas splendid contribution to our first line of defence, and point to it with great pride as evidence of the fact that the ties that hind our Empire are stronger to-day than ever. , And they do not forget to call upon the foreigner to make a nolo of the fact. Thera are, however, one or two papers whirl* are, as the Irishman said, "looking the gift horse in the mouth to find flies in the ointment. - ' These journals give a, qualified welcome to Canada’s gift, which is adequately voiced by the Radical London Daily News, thus ; "Are the three Canadian battleships to be additional to or in substitution for the existing British naval programme t If the British estimates for construction are to he correspondingly reduced, then there will be an equivalent relief to the British taxpayer. Inasmuch a.s the programme which Mr Churchill outlined, in March was declared to he adequate, there is the best of reasons why, 1C Canada makes the fine gift of three battleships, the British programme of construction should be reduced accordingly. But if there is no corresponding reduction, then Canada’s gift will really he a burden to this country as well as to Canada. Being additional io an already adequate programme, they muse be superfluous, and the taxpayers of this country will have to man and maintain three battleships beyond their needs. The Intentions in this case may he beyond praise, but the effect is the veiy. opposite of what is intended." Contrast this view of Canada« proposed gift with Hi at expressed by the Daily Chronicle, which shares with the News llie burden of : upholding Mr Asquith’s Government as far as London morning papers are concerned . "The Imperial value of such offers exceeds their money value. Three Dreadnoughts voluntarily provided by a dominion are worth more to the I-.mpira and the Fleet than the same ships provided hv the British taxpayer. They are so because they prove in the most practical way to all concerned and to the outer world as well, that the base on which our naval strength is founded, is not merelv insular but Imperial. They emphasise both our defensive resources and our peaceful intentions. 1-oreign Powers will take note that our command of the sou does not rest alone upon the wealth and spirit of the people in two small islands; they may also be. assured that our oversea dominions, which have no conceivable interest in quarrelsome adventures, would not contribute to our Navy if they did not regard it as the handmaid of an essentially unaggressive policy.” THE DOMINIONS AND THE GIFT So far as Australasia’s view of Canada’s handsome offer is concerned, tha people of the Old Country have for the moment to rely upon the views expressed by the official representatives ofi those dominions beyond the seas. In Sir George Reid’s view Mr Borden's scheme is " magnificent from every point of view.” and ’a great event in the history of the whole Empire.” Mr Borden’s speech, said Sir George Reid, means so much in the future and is framed on such statesmanlike lines. So far as the future is concerned, 1 look forward to the time when Canada will follow tha example of Australia : • The naval programme of the Empird will, I hope, in days to come include stations at various important points to ha maintained by that part of the Empire in the neighbourhood of those stations. This is in no sense a weakening of Imperial force. It is a necessity of national growth. I hope to see the North Pacific and the North Atlantic patrolled by Canadian fleets, just as the South Seas will he patrolled by the Australian fleet. I hope also to see a unit stationed at Capetown and one in the Eastern Seas in closer touch with India than anything now existing. My idea is a vigorous fleet at every strategic point affecting the Empire maintained by lb® dominions, leaving to Great Britain the defence of the British Isles, the Mediterranean. and also, for all time to come, a large share in the protection of Imperial trade routes. This Is not a weakening of the Empire, as, although there would he different fleets, they would also belong to one navy. I have the most earnest hope that the call of the sea will sound for all time in tha ears of the British race all over the world."

Tlie Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, when interviewed on the subject said : T can only express my delight at Mr Borden's proposals. My own opinion is that his line of action is the right one. We cannot disguise the fact that there is grave anxiety throughout the whole of the British dominions overseas regarding the position we are in relative to efficient defence. I am, of course, only expressing my own views when I say that I feel strongly that the time has arrived for the fifteen million white people who dwell in British territory outside the United Kingdom and Ireland having some voice in Imperial affairs. 1 am fully conscious of the great difficulties in the way of arranging this, but I Slave supreme confidence that British statesmanship will be able to meet the cn.rrccncv”