New-York tribune., 1909-06-22
IMPERIAL DEFENCE
.conference Expected to Supple
ment 1rother.
London. June 8.


gsr'z- .atre5 such as Lord Rosebery's last
been - - 1as- man" and Sir Edward Grey's ,
Slim .7ries Of self-goveruing nations and
0hi0- 0h,,, -ass current. as ''England's splendid
iaeS. tas done in the past, until better
is0''--- ,.s ~, for run. There has been lavish
oae ...,;-- without the air Of condescension of
baSt~ bsp,~ oo1orial visitors have sometimes COM
" and Journalists have never been re-
p IN London with more distinction The
g., EDITORS have been hcnized by public
- al parties and by hostesses in great
- and they are likely to return 10 Canada,
D.-,ie South Africa and India more fervid
"a sxransive imperialists than they were when
& esme Certainly they have seen the
~..-o-oIis Al its best. and have heard the lead
- english opinion when least partisan and
.4rs.+iye Lord RosebeTy has given them
H-.a-n3Aoe Of after-dinner oratory. Sir Ed
- GREY has supplied them with statesman
- s,nosirion Of British diplomacy, and Mr..
-4orr Lord Cromer. Nr. MChenna, Mr. Hal
80 and other speakers have discussed the
.s.irs of the empire with lucidity and reason
s,,,-sss / has been genuine carnival Of i'm
-,-:slisrn and brotherly feeling.
The speech which Englishmen we're waiting 10
- was made by a Sydney editor, Mr.. F. ".
--,-s There WAS good phrase in it: Never
shin had carried a sun from the shores Of
., rba conference heartily appsuded. 1t was
,,s logicaI argument that naval supremacy was
,ues-io- of life and death and that Australia
,,s the other colonies must help in paying for
a. that appealed 10 the pockets as well as to the
.ss-ts Of Englishmen. He contended that colo
isl naval policy could rot be local. that il would
;. ta1lz for Australia 70 build a feet OF cruisers
fber own and that il was the duty Of all out
l4ng sections Of the empire 10 do their part in
srnnorfinE British supremacy on the high seas
~As main point. he said. was "sufflCiency aPd.
eeesncv' and thu colonies should accept the
.r-e-t OPINION Of responsible naval authorities
81 the United Kingdom He was disposed 20
srree with Sir Hugh Graham. who had declared
tbsf the imperial government had been too in
dulrert and the overseas dor1inions not quite
generous Er. Ward has earned knighthood by
saving exactly what every Fngiishman has
wanted representative colonial leader 10 say.
The colonies have never been forced 10 con-
t-ibute 70 the support Of the navy which was
kesning the highway Of the sea open. hut now
nat Dreadnoughts have become 50 expensive
and hsrtleships SO short lived under the pressure
Of modern invention. the feeling in the old
home" without doubt Is that they ought 10 do
Il Of their OWN accord
The question OF overseas supplies for the navy
cane Up when Mr.. Chamberlain was Secretary
a conference N London He was known 10 be
an advocate of imperial federation and preferen-
tial tariffs and had won commanding influence
II Br1rain's possessions by his attempts to take
ID these questions on the business side Not only
was he convinced that the colonies ought 70 pay
their share for the maintenance of the British
feet but he was also shrewd in his calculation
that II would be easier TO induce the mother
state TO modify it's tariff policy II they would
make systematic contributions for naval
penses Nj Chamberlain failed 10 carry his
point because there was a powerful viii ar
-s1ed against him. Sir wflfrid Laurier opposed
esaoriai RELAYS for imperial defence because he
vas unwilling that Canada should be drawn
into what he described as the maeIstrom Of
Eu-oTssu ornaments" There was renewal Of
te srs-npt to negotiate a financial arrange
ns1t Khen another conference Of the Premiers
rzs held soon after the Liberal government re
tuned 70 power but nothing came Of It because
lod Elgin was satisfied with obtaining author
fy for organizing news bureau in the Colonial
06oe and for retaining control over It without
making i a representative institution Of the
s;aies Of the empire. Now that New Zealand
has offered a battleship and Australia another,
arc an imperial defence conference is 10 as
senbie II the course of a few weeks, the ques-
uoz of financing a costly navy mas come up
sgsin with cumulative force.
the spirit animating Mr. Wards speech and
The gifts Of battleships from Australia and New
Zealand be felt AZ the approaching Imperial
Defence Conference, something VIII be done
toward the solution Of the vital problem Of naval
osfence The colonies IN the South Seas are
already ready for the policy Of overseas contri-
Buttons 70 the imperial navy. and South Africa,
o when confederation is carried out is likely 70
support il generously Sir Wilfrid Laurier is a
Salesman O tenacious opinions and force OF
Character He may be able 70 make a success
u stand against the movement for an ALFRED
navy representing the empire whole and
cha-gsabie 10 the colonies as well to the
United Kingdom Yet the argument that all
Sea routes are protected by the navy, and that
as colonies. union Of allies Of self governing
hatons.r ought 20 bear q considerable share Of
ne costs. Is urged with persistent energy and
cannot be easily answered. The Imperial Press
OaaieTence with its round Of social festiSity and
public oratoTy, IS promoting this object. With
LIBERAL government in power discussion Of pref
Tential trade and tariff reform is impracticable
-Aesp cable tolls and press agencies without
.u'eignsrs in service cannot take up much time
N@Fa! defence has become the theme of supreme
Importance. snG the colonial editors when they
.ei1rn to their desks viii be full Of it and Of the
-3poriance Of their mission 10 London.
There will be something more than the ques-
A'h o. money when the official and secret I'm
ps1ial Defence Conference takes the place OF the
--oflral press gathering. II the colonies are TO
teF their share toward meeting the burdens OF
e'el armaTnents. there yyiIl have 20 be Coun-
= q The Empire IN which they can be ade-
s-aie-y represented There must be either
ol'a'aon admiralty for the five navies Of the five
--~'oas or q council with military and naval
1perts from the great states % the empire
--lls arEunert viii be ren.Ilrad 10 convince