THE IMPERIAL SECRET.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14018, 24 September 1909, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL SECRET.

Sill J. G. WARD ANi> DEFENCE CONFERENCE.

NEW ZEALAND S OFFER.

BRITISH EMBARRASSMENT.

liy Electric. Telegraph.-TCopvright. - (Received Sept. 24, 0.6 a.m.) PERTH, Sept 24. A Press Association co-respondent, under date London, August 27, writes : Mr. Asquith's statement to the -House of Commons last evening made us acquainted with the general, results of ■' . the Conference on tho Empire Defence, but there is more than one hiatus in ethics which can only he filled when the official documents are published in the autumn. Tho military side of the conference was a small matter which created no difficulties. No suggestion was ir.ade for interfering with the control of the dominions in anything relating to their own armies. Every detail of every kind— length of service, nature of service, _ - periods of -drill, strength, establishments in regard to all these, the oolt onies and dominions were absolutely undisturbed. But important suggestions had to be discussed respecting standardising the uniformity of the pattern of weapons and of drill, the formation of unions, the questions of transport and other things affecting' assimilation to the * Home army. 8o that if eyer-ifre forces of the dominions joined with those of Britain or India there wiQ be co*ar- . dination and unity.- The work- of. the dominions will hereafter bo directed not only to their own borne defence* but to the .creation of an Imperial army. If New Zealand or any othe~r ' dominion introduces universal military service it will be able to do so on its own independent lines. The naval work of the conference was of higher importance than anything referring to the military affairs, 'lhe gathering sprang primarily out of New Zealand 3 offer of a Dreadnought followed by a similar undertaking on the part of the Commonwealth. There is no secret that those offers created tnibarrassment to the Home Government. It never expected that the historic speeches of Mi. Asquith, Premier, and Mr. M'Kcnna, First Lord of the Admiralty, on Hie rapidly growing strength of the German army would arouse such a paffcfc ctic responso among the colonies, as. an understanding to bear some of the Mirdens of the Old Country. Expert opinion was decidedly against the acceptance of anything so large as a Dreadnought unless it co\rtd lie - used in Home waters and be counted on as a justification for reckoning it as a replacement of a Home battle ship. . Public opinion resented that aspect of the gift ; moreover, all the naval~Jn«n - who looked at the' increase of the Ger- ' man cruiser*. were concerned as to the necessity of preserving the trade routes. It was obvious to everybody , who -had access to 1 official opinion, from the day the Conference was summoned to -the last hour of its sitting, that the Home Government would strive to convert the offers of battle ships into cruisers. There was leas difficulty in this respect with the Commonwealth than with New Zealand. , Sir Joseph Ward, who had the advantage or being his own Prime J^inister, and capable of speaking for the Government, , held strongly to his original offer. The Commonwealth invited him to join in the creation of an Australian navy to be manned and * trained, independently of the Home Government, hut Sir Joseph preferred to rely upon the Imperial fleets. It iok lows therefore that the New Zealand arrangement with oar authorities dif- . fen in many respects from that of the Commonwealth. It means that besides . continuing" the old annual subvention of £100,000, New Zealand will present the Empire with a battle ship. Sir Joseph Ward' wenld have preferred a Drcndnought, and amongst tnor© of less inspired paragraphs thaf have been circulated respecting the doings of this secret conference, one was issued afte* the last sitting, which distinctly assented that Sir Joseph Ward had ad-. hered to his Dreadnought, to be correct and makes known that the New Zealand donation, over and above the annual subvention is £100,000. There wtTI be a large armoured' rrajscr of the Indomitable class, sometimes described as a Dreadnought cruiser. This ship will be attached to the China unit of the Pacific Fleet, and become its flfti* ship and flag ship of the Enst ' Indian and Australian units^-in fact of all the units of the Pacific fleets whenever they are together. ' ' As the China unit will not often be seen in New Zealand waters it waffwranged that some of the smaller ▼easels of the China < unit— small cruisers and submarines— *all have head quarters in a New Zealand port.