Dominion Navies

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 18 April 1914, Page 5

Dominion Navies

ADVICE TO NEW ZEALAND, CO-OPERATE WITH AUSTRALIA. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 17, 11.35 p.m. London, April 17. The Morning Post questions the strategic soundness of Australasia's naval views, saying the dissipation of forces , world-wide makes for weakness at the decisive point, hut if the Government hud fulfilled its agreement it would have been a proof of its bona fides and it might have induced New Zealand to adhere to the subsidy. The Post advises New Zealand, if determined on a change of policy, that it should co-oper-ate with Australia to build a strong unit, and not to build sham defence works .ashore. AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE. London, April 10. Mr. Lynch has asked Mr. Churchill whether the Admiralty's policy constitutes a violation of the naval agreement of 1909; whether modifications of the agreement were undertaken after submission of the proposals to the Commonwealth and with the concurrence of the Minister of Defence; also whether he had received Senator Millcn's communication; also whether Mr. Churchill contemplates the possibility of Australia's defence depending on Japanese ships; whether Australia's attitude in insisting on the 1!H)9 agreement will produce a corresponding modification of the Admiralty's policy. The answers were postponed until Mr. Churchill returned.