CANADA'S OFFER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 16 December 1912, Page 5

CANADA'S OFFER

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association— By 'Electric Tetearaph—Copyright.) < I .

REPLY TO SIR WILFRED LAUMKIt. (Received Last Night, 5.5 'o'clock.) OTTAWA',' December 14. The Hon. L. P. l/elletier, Postmast-er-General, • replying to the recent .statement of Sir Wilfrid Lnurior, concerning the naval question, taunted him with not being anxious to aid Britain. "Jf there were a real trial of strength with a foreign power in British waters," he asked. "where would be the value of the Canadian squadron? It would be in Canadian waters, looking on."*' Mr Pelletier said it would be absurd to expect Canada to man her own fleet, when she i was not a nreseivt able to man one cruiser. The whole of the crews of , the Rainbow and the Niobc had been brought from Britain. Sir Wilfrid Laurier retorted that | the Government was only parading its generosity, knowing that there would be no likelihood of its being asked to i give it effect. NEWSPAPER OPIN lONS. AMERICAN PRESS SILENT. (Received This Morning 12.25 o'clock) LONDON, December 15. , The Times states that the Canadian ships cannot be built for two years, ana Mr R. L. Borden's permanent policy will, therefore, have full time to mature. Meanwhile arrangements will be made to secure the immediate development of _ constructional facilities in. Canada. ' Mr Borden, it, says, hit upon a most practical and businesslike method Of dealing with the matter. It was of real Imperial importance, that the capacity of the naval construction should lie distributed instead of being concentrated in England. The natural course would to begin with the smaller craft, which was the Australian policy. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent says that the New York Press, with few exceptions, have ignored Mr Borden's and Sir Wilfrid Laurier's speeches. If an editor is asked why that is so, he says that it is not America's business to advertise a neighbour, and also that the contribution is quite unnecessary, as Can* ada cam always rely on the Monroe Dortrine, and Uncle Sam's protection. The difficulty of recruiting the fleet in Canada' is thoroughly appreciated.