The Washington herald., 1909-07-08
A Way Out

The most important development Of the
British Imperial Press Conference was,
undoubtedly. that put forward by Lord
Charles Beresford designed TO find way
out from under. the terrific strain that
the people OF Great Britain are under in
maintaining. under annually increasing
difficulties. the two-power standard for
the navy. He. in common with most
English statesmen, recognizes that the
maintenance OF the two-pOwer standard
is essential 10 British commercial life
and he IS brave enough to look the facts
fairly in the face and declare that It is
becoming impossible for the United King
dom alone TO stand the strain.
But while the burden is becoming TOO
great for the United Kingdom. he points
out that it should not be for the United
British Empire. and his proposition is
that IN this one matter. at least. the en-
pire as a whole should do it's share
Lord Beresford thinks it right that the
United Kingdom should, as heretofore,
bear the biggest share Of the naval bur
den. but that the Dominion Of Canada,
the Commonwealth Of Australia, New
Zealand. the Union OF South Africa, and
. perhaps. even India, must be asked 70
provide a proportionate part
The Importance Of this idea Of Lord
Charles Beresford comes from the fact
that II was heartily indorsed by the dis
tnguished members OF the colonial press
who made up the conference This in
dorsement means. IN all probability. that
throughout the length and breadth OF the
British Empire the plan win be pushed
in the press and its Importance and fair
ness urged upon the colonial peoples.
And OF the fairness and equity OF the
plan there can be little question. It is to
Great Britain that Canada looks for pro-
lection on the seas and the safeguard
ing OF her coasts. She has foreign com
merce of ss5O,oO0,OOo a year; merchant
shipping OF 10000 tons, and It is the Brit
ish navy that insures this. She has a
treasury revenue Of $S0.O0O.O0O a year, and
yet she contributes practically nothing
TO the support Of the navy Of her mother
country. The same Is true Of Australia
in modified degree. for that common
wealth, with a population Of 4250,OOO.
shipping OF 10000 tons. and commerce Of
$S75,000O00, does maintain a naval militia,
which uses ships furnished and equipped
by the United Kingdom. New Zealand
has shipping Of $4,000 tons, commerce
amounting TO S2OO.OoO. 900. and a population
OF about 100000, and contributes nothing
to the naval protection or naval strength
Of England The same thing is true OF
the South African Union, with its popuIa-
ton Of s25O,OOO and its commerce valued
at Sis. 10000 a year
II these men OF the scattered nations
should adopt, in true patriotic spirit the
suggestion Of Lord Beresford, the ques-
ton OF the maintenance Of Great Brit
aims supremacy at sea would be forever
settled 1t would be hopeless for any
other single nation TO compete. II Can
ada, New Zealand, Australia, and South
Africa should contribute. in something Of
the same proportion as Great Britain
does, all would-be rivalries with Great
Britain must cease.
Nor would the benefits from such a
companionship OF the different parts OF
the British Empire stop at a checking Of
the mad waste Of money for warships.
We can imagine few things that would
do more TO soidify the empire, bring its
Interests closer together. re-establlsh pride
IN the nations unity. The fleets Of the
empire. in time OF need combined under
single authority from the mother country.
would be a rallying point for the enthu-
siasm OF the empire. and in the com
mon pride-greater because each colony
would have contributed lts share-many
Of the petty Jealousies and minor differ
enees. that even now are sources Of some
anxiety, would disappear.
There has been no plan for British i'm
perial unity put forward that promises
so we'll as this OF Lord Charles Beresford.
II this plan meets with practical ap-
proval from the men Of the seven seas.
then indeed It may be thought that he
has found the way out