WASHINGTON MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 19512, 11 May 1922, Page 5

WASHINGTON MEETING

LECTURE BY LORD LEE DOMINIONS AND NAVAL DEFENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, May 10. (Received May 10, 9.30 p.m.) Lord Lee lecturing on the Washington Conference at the Royal Colonial Institute, said the Versailles Treaty, while endeavouring to secure peace to Europe, undesignedly increased the chances of war in the Pacific, largely in relation to Shantung, which, while ignored by Europe, was regarded in America as a question of colossal magnitude. The Washington Conference changed an inevitable war into inevitable peace. Lord Lee deprecated suspicions of Japan, whose statesmen played straight at Washington, as v>as evidenced by the honourable manner in which they observed the letter and the spirit of their engagements. He played a tribute to the splendid work of Sir Robert Borden, Senator Pearce, Sir John Salmond, and Mr Sastri, who were typical of the best of their respective peoples. They equalled the best of the other delegates in ability and determination to ensure the world’s peace. Nevertheless, he regretted the Dominions’ attitude towards naval defence. He recalled the fact that at the last Imperial Conference the dominions agreed to the maintenance of the Navy as a common concern of the Empire. ’Therefore the burden should be shared in proportions which were to be settled after the Washington Conference. So far the dominions had not assistd Britain to bear the crushing burden. The result was that the British taxpayer alone was footing the bill for the maintenance of the Navy in defence of the commerce, trade, and liberties of the Empire, including the dominions. Britain was staggering along hoping the dominions would open their hearts and pockets before it was too late. Sir James Allen agreed' that the dominions did not take their fair share, but he agreed that Australia had observed her bargain prior to the war when Britain failed regarding the Pacific. He claimed that New Zealand was now bearing her fuU share.