A.—4a

28

(iv.)

AUSTRALIA.

Summary of result of meetings : — Present : The Right Honourable R. K. McKENNA, M.P., First Lord of the Admiralty (in the Chair). Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher, G.C.8., 0.M., First Sea Lord of the Admiralty. Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. A. Bethell, C.M.G., Director of Naval Intelligence. W. Graham Greene, Esq., C.8., Assistant Secretary of the Admiralty. Rear-Admiral Sir C. L. Ottley, K.C.M.G., M.8.0., Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence. A ustralia: Colonel the Hon J. F. G. Foxton, C.M.G., Minister without portfolio. Captain A. R. Creswell, C.M.G. Captain J. R. Chancellor, D.5.0., Assistant Secretary to Imperial Conference. The suggestions made in the Admiralty Memorandum formed the basis of the discussion and the following arrangements were provisionally adopted, viz. : — Australia should provide a Fleet Unit to consist of : — 1 Armoured Cruiser (new " Indomitable " class). 3 Unarmoured Cruisers (" Bristol" class). 6 Destroyers (River class). 3 Submarines (C Class). These vessels should be manned as far as possible by Australian officers and seamen, and the numbers required to make up the full complement for immediate purposes should be lent by the Royal Navy. In peace time and while on the Australian Station this Fleet unit would be under the exclusive control of the Commonwealth Government as regards their movements and general administration, but officers and men should be governed by regulations similar to the King's Regulations, and be under naval discipline, and when with vessels of the Royal Navy, the senior officer should take command of the whole. Further, when placed by the Commonwealth Government at the disposal of the Admiralty in war time, the vessels should be imder the control of the Naval Commander-in-Chief. ■ The Australian Fleet unit should form part of the Eastern Fleet of the Empire to be composed of similar units of the Royal Navy, to be known as the China and the East Indies units respectively and the Australia Unit. The initial cost of such a Fleet unit was estimated to be approximately : — £ 1 Armoured Cruiser (new " Indomitable " class) 2,000,000 3 Unarmoured Cruisers (" Bristols ") at 350,000/. 1,050,000 6 Destroyers (River class) at 80,000 Z. ... ... 480,000 3 Submarines (C. class) at 55,0002. ... ... 165,000 Total ... ... ... £3,695,000 The annual expenditure in connection with the maintenance of the Fleet Unit, pay of personnel, and interest on first cost and sinking fund, was estimated