The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINC Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1926. IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINC Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1926. IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Having got rid of the troublesome question of Dominion status, South Africa being left in a minority of one and promptly abandoning her dangerous programme, the Imperial Conference turned to the problem of Imperial Defence. These two questions are closely related. Neutrality when the Mother Country goes to war has been shown to be extremely difficult for any Dominion to maintain. The realities of the position are disclosed in the declaration that when the King is at war all parts of his Dominions are involved. This is another way of saying that it is impossible to remain within the Empire and ignore the fact that it is concerned in a war. If a part of the Empire insisted on standing pat in abject neutrality, the enemy would have to agree to observe that neutrality, and after the war was over the neutral Dominion would still be a fit subject for bargaining m the peace negotiations. No portion of the German Empire was regarded as other than a part of Germany in the recent war, and the British Empire must be prepared to meet similar conditions. It follows then that if the whole of the Empire moves into war simultaneously its power must depend on the extent to which every part of the Empire is prepared to throw its weight into the common scheme of defence. The Great War showed that the assistance available in the Dominions is a very real thing, and in any future conflicts their potential power in the fighting line will be carefully weighed by any nation or collection of nations disposed to challenge the Motherland. This outcome of the Great War is of vital importance to the British family, and on the extent to which it is developed will depend the respect accorded the Empire in the future. At present the major share of the cost of Imperial defence is borne by the British taxpayer, whose contributions to the cost of naval, military and aerial preparations are several times greater than those provided by any inhabitant in any other unit of the commonwealth. New Zealand has declared her readiness to increase her contribution without putting forward any conditions as to how it shall lie expended. This attitude will be generally applauded in the Old Country, and while the sum involved may not be large in comparison with the total amount involved in Imperial defence, the spirit behind it will make an impression in other countries, and, we hope, in other parts of the Empire. Expenditure on Imperial defence cannot be regarded as an outlay for the fostering of Militarism, nor can it be charged against those who advocate co-operation along these lines that they are in any way disparaging the League of Nations. The aim of these measures is to shift some of the burdens of the Mother Country to the Dominions, not to build up funds for the extension of offensive power within the Empire. While there is the slightest risk of war it is necessary that each country in the Imperial family shall be ready to do its share in the common task. It has been said by people living under other flags that if the British Navy were to disappear from the seas piracy woukl return immediately and the uninterrupted flow of trade along the sea lanes would be impossible. Diplomacy can achieve much in the peaceful settlement of international disputes, but its hand is strengthened by the existence of force to back it up if necessary and the extension of trade to the countries where Governments are unstable or where the control is insecure requires the existence of force sufficient to ensure justice for those who carry on this peaceful work. Co-operation in the financial side of Imperial defence, and the co-ordination of naval, mifitary and aerial training so that if the call to arms comes there will be no confusion are the essential features of an Empire policy to which every Dominion must subscribe generously in common with the Motherland. In defence unity is strength so long as each unit is prepared to do its share —and the word “prepared” is one of the most important in that sentence.