OVERSEA DOMINIONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13434, 22 July 1911, Page 5

OVERSEA DOMINIONS.

THE QUESTION OF NEUTRALITY. An Impossible Proposal. Preea Association.—Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, July 21. Lord Selborne, in a letter in reply to the Pretoria Volksteiu, shows that all parts of the -mpiro are dependent on the navy for safety. It was the navy's duty to destroy the enemy's ships wherever found. Under no circumstances could it be to the Empire's interest that South Africa should remain neutral iu a war wherein the Empire was engaged. The Admiralty had not spent two millions on dockyards at Simonstown for amusement He asks does anybody suppose that Simonstown can be used as a naval base and the rest of South Africa remain neutral 5 There was not a part of the Empire whereto the command of the sea was more essential, and if South Africa lost command of tho sea, South Africans would be unable to freely develop their nationality, and a foreign Tower possessing command of the sea would need only to seize every ;fort from Capetown to Delagoa Bay to inflict on South Africa the complete loss of trade or compliance'with it? directions.