DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 55, 6 March 1913, Page 8

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

SOUTH POSITION. •By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright. (United Press Association.) Capetown, March 5. In the Assembly, Mr Silburn moved that' the Government should inline diately submit proposals for an annual contribution to the navy, commensurate with the Union’s import a nee. General Botha proposed, as an amendment, that the House recog nises the importance of a full consiaeratipn of naval defence, and request the Government to consult the Motherland. He said that he fully recog rased the necessity of defending trade routes, and hoped that it would noi become a party question. .It was impossible to bind South Africa to an annual contribution, which was not the best form of assisting the Imperia Government. South Africa had < small population, and its contribu lion would be merely a drop in tin ocean. The Motherland must be held primarily responsible for Imperia defence; but ho thought that SoutJ Africa might maintain a small navi in her own waters.

Mr Smartt, the leader of the Op position, agreed that this should bta non-party question, and accepteci General Botha’s amendment, upon the understanding that the discussion with the [Motherland should be start ed immediately. Ho hoped that South Africa would soon follow New Zealand’s magnificent example, now that Capetown possessed docks. He tendered New Zealand his sincere thanks for sending the vessel. Mr Mermnan regards Mr Smartt’s speech as dangerous. He was alarmed at the idea of dragging Souti, Africa into an insensate competition in armaments. The whole of Europe had gone mad. Canada had embarked on a dangerous course by having a Minister resident in London, who was a sort of partner, and would be dragged into Great Britain’s warlike en terprises. At the same time ho recognised that South Africa was in a most humiliating position. She carried on an enormous trade, which was protected without adequate payment. He suggested that tariff preference be abolished, and a certain percentage of the increased revenue devoted to a more adequate contribution to the British navy. He ridiculed the idea of a South African navy. Ho added that when attending the conference in London lie was struck with Canada’s determination to hoist her own flag. Turning to the Opposition, ho said; “Don’t imagine that you can change events by artificial political arrangements.” Challenged to explain himself, Mr Merriman replied that he could forecast by reading history. The Dutch in the hack benches rapturously applauded Mr Merriinan’s deprecation of the schemes of Imperial cooperation. CANADA’S ATTITUDE. Ottawa, March 5. In tlio navy debate it was argued that it was unbecoming that Canada should hire Englishmen to fight in the Dominion’s ships, and the retort from the Government benches was that Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s fleet was too poor to fight and too slow to run away, while no Canadians could be found to man it.