IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10196, 4 July 1911, Page 3

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

JEALOUSLY GUARDED. SECRETS DIVULGED. NEW ERA IN IMPERIAL RELATIONS. Day after clay this week, wrote the London correspondent of the " Sydney Daily Telegraph " on June 2, the Prime Ministers of the dominions and their colleagues have been listening to secrets which had hitherto been unfolded to none beyond the Cabinet Ministers of the United Kingdom. Frankly and completely, Mr Asquith, Sir Edward Grey, Lord Haldane, Mr M'Kenna and their distinguished expert advisers have placed before these men, from all parts of the world, schemes of defence, and aggression which, if given to an enemy, would profoundly affect the British strength and status. It has been impressive, indeed, to see Messrs Fisher and Batchelor and Senator Pearce walking into No. 2 Whitehall Gardens to share, that which was, until this week, so jealously guarded. Mr Asquith's decision in this matter has been extremely bold. It should for ever put a stop to the talk of " Little Englanders." As a demonstration of confidence in the young peoples inier the flag abroad, it eclipses the sensational grant of autonomous governm°nt to the South African colonies five years utter they had been engaged in rajial wai. It has no precedent. And _ yet the dramatic step has been received with universal approval. We have not had a single note of protest. All those party voices which condemned the Liberals for their trust in the Dutch today are silent. Men and newspapers of all political faiths and professions applaud Mr Asquith's boldness. Reside these meetings at No. 2 Whitehall Gardens, all the other work of the Conference fades out of the public mind. All eyes have been towards the Chamber where Sir Edward Grey explained to the representatives of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand those principles of diplomacv and strategy which havo made and maintained and still maintain the might of England in every ouarter of the globe. Mr Fisher and General Botha might well express their surprise and gratification.

CHARACTERISTIC JOURNALISM

It lias been interesting to notice that the British Press made a grand exception of these meetings. No attempt has been made even to surmise what has taken place. The keenest journals in the world have been satisfied to chronicle that the delegates met at certain hours. That was all. To realise the significance you have to remember that there are many men who write in the London Press who could have, from their knowledge of foreign affairs, set out very closely much of what woukl be .'aid by the British Ministers at these momentous conferences. It is one of the best characteristics of British journalism that it rarely or never carries its professional desire to provide news to the extent of publishing information which embarrasses the Government abroad. WHAT WILL THE EFFECT BE? Naturally the question which arises in the minds of Australians and Canadians is what effect the sharing of these defence secrets will have upon the development of the defence policies of the dominions. The chief concern of Mr Asquith and his colleagues would b& the refusal of the Canadian and Australian Governments to hand over their local navies without reserve to the control of the Admiralty in time of war. This decision, in fact, has been primarily responsible for the week's wonderful exhibitions of confidence. It cafi-not be doubted that, had we in the dominions granted that, our navies- - which, although young and frail to-day, are promised early and great developments—would pass automatically to the Admiralty in time of trouble, we should not at this stage have reached the present That decision on our part has forced the hands of the British Government. It is scarcely necessary to say that no information of any sort whatever has been given on t-.liis point by the dominions' delegates. Nevertheless, it is a safe assumption that Sir Edward Grey, in unfolding the Mother-country's policy in foreign affairs, had definitely in mind the correction of a situation winch, although harmless to-day, might easily develop into a situation complex and dangerous. It may bp assumed that the British Ministers, without directly attacking the dominions' naval policy, clearly showed how menacing and weakening it might become in the event of the different paits of the Empire taking different views of a, British war, and disagreeing as to whether all the navies flying the British flag should engage in any specific, cause. The general opinion is that Sir Edward Grev and his colleagues unfolded to Mr Fisher and the other delegates a complete scheme of worldwide action in the evtint of the various parts of the Empire being menaced simultaneously. It is obvious that the Imperial Government, without belittling the ambitious dominions' schemes of defence, has not yet come to regard those schemes as adequate for the defence of the dominions, for the protection of which they have been formulated. In other words, the British Government would make it clear that it. still considered itself absolutely responsible for the maintenance ot all the dominions, irrespective of what the people of the dominions were doing for themselves. That is to say, Mi Asquith would, without hinting the fft6lings of the oversea delegates, shrnv that British strategy still contemplated having to bear the brunt of the battle in the event of any attack uj)on British countries abroad. The Prime Minister would say, "Wo applaud your ambition and your unselfish efforts to take care of yourselves, and in that way to assist the Empire as a whole. But we do not think that you are yet sufficiently strong to stand alontt, and in view of this we still make what we consider ample provision for your safety. Here is our scheme." DELEGATES DEEPLY IMPRESSED. This maternal magnanimity could not fail to deeply impress the dominions' delegates. They could scarcely viftw this responsible attitude of the T-nited Kingdom towards the Young Britons without feeling that they should do nothing which might appear ungrateful; and even go so far as to cause the Imjierial Government emIninutssment. It is not likely, perhaps, that Mr Fisher and Sir Wilfrid Laurier would commit themselves to any reversal of the Australian and. Canadian decision W> retain control of their navies in war time. But it would be remarkable indeed if the vieAvs of the dominions' delegates were not substantially modified by the attitude of the Mother Country. Therefore one definite result of this declaration will bo the almost certainty that, even without a sj>ecinc declaration, the British Government will look with confidence to the local navies coming under their control at an* - outbreak of hostilities. As time goes on, and the local navies and other defence grow strong enough to relieve the Home Government of all responsibility in Australian and Canadian spheres, this understanding may be revoked. When that time comes it is quite conceivable that the British Government will be able to look without concern upon the refusal of the dominion's Governments to exercise their right to say in what British wars their fleets will become engaged.