THE DOMINIONS AND DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11591, 13 February 1913, Page 4

THE DOMINIONS AND DEFENCE.

In view of the discussions that have been proceeding for some considerable time now on the subject of Imperial defence and the relation of the Overseas Dominions thereto, it is interesting to recall a passage on this subject in a speech delivered early last year by Viscount Fisher. "The great Dominions," he said, "are not, except so far as sentiment is concerned, integral portions of the British Empire; but are in reality self-governing . States in alliance with Great Britain. When, therefore, they come to consider the most effective method of preparing for Avar and for campaigns, they are constrained to frame plans in accordance with Parliamentary institutions and with heterogeneous Imperial system. If any strategic plan is formulated we have to ask ourselves whether such a plan is likely to commend itself to the self governing Dominions. So far as we can see, they would, for many years to come, have to be content with a scheme of co-ordination that leaves the Dominions a degree of freedom from naval and military control that is unquestionably incompatible with the highest naval and military efficiency. No one who has watched the attitude of the Dominion Parliaments can be under any illusion about the nature of the ties between the Mother Country and the great selfgoverning communities. These ties are in the main sentimental. Any "to formulate strategic plans based on common action would be premature, and might not impossibly prove to be disastrous. It is not sufficiently realised yet that during the last decade the attitude of the official mind in this country towards questions of national defence has undergone a revolutionary change. Up to 1904 even statesmen shrank from applying their minds consistently to problems of defence. The most effective method yet found for co-ordinating the forces is the Committee of Imperial Defence, and-I hope that by the great Dominions sending annually their representatives to sit upon that committee a long step may be taken towards that federation of the Empire which has been the dream of patriots here and overseas."