New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-12
IMPERIAL DEFENCE
MI, australian Idea-A Represent
attire Council.
London, July %.

~ .ben he was at the Coleman OIhce uieu W
Si" the prernlers Of the self-governing con-
e'N'.- ,,o,s that il was their duty to contribute
i'Ss.-,etically 10 the costs or Imperial oetehce'
hen Sir Wilfrid Laurier declined TO be
anu - ",be maelstrom OF European arma-
o. -,s" he fell back upon tariff reform with
menu u,ioI trade for the colonies as the only
p.,.el measure for taking up imperial fedora
~ the business side. When a Free Trade
wv .rrment is in power there is no alternative
81 a.. The common ground for imperial asso-
po. .,on nust be found in naval defence. If any
ca .a. and Lord Crewe is endeavoring this
VIZ VIZ. % make working arrangement with rep
1.or,stives Of five groups OF colonies. New
I',,a ard Newfoundland are represented by
- ,ren,iers: the South African Confederation
w. vet been organized, but the premiers OF
' o,ortas are here and Australia and Canada
- .o,b sent three delegates TO the confer
Rattleships have been offered by New
- and Australia and resolutions have
= ossed BY the Dominion parliament which
s,..,a recognition Of responsibility for the de-
- ~ the empire. NJ. Deakin is committed
comprehensive scheme OF local defence and
,-.,arial training. These are the loosely laid
.',5stions on which new experiment in en-
,re building is TO be based
T.e Colonial Office. with its Admiralty and
-n,,.rv advisers cannot safely employ any
- NJ cornpulson in obtaining fnacial assist
~ ,-o,, the colonies Tor naval construction.
:. ,sto upon taxation without representation
= ,r,nosed after Yorktown, and the unjusti-
.A1a claim has never been revived. Neither
- c-evye nor any other member OF the Lib
81 government would venture TO ask the self
~.,s-rng colonies for assistance in building or
eo,,tsfning a navy. Ministers cannot with
,,gn,tv do more than place themselves in
r,nsthetic attitude for receiving suggestions
.ron the colonial premiers and delegates. They
Stand In silence with their hands curled
around their ears to catch the first faint sound
!, ,tll,npness on the part OF the colonies TO
share the burden Of naval defence. That is what
.hsv arc doing this week. They are not forcing
,hs,r ideas upon the visiting statesmen but are
,5,iug them every opportunity for confessng
,hst the British navy protects them and keeps
o,., their lines Of communication with the
,.o,bsr country and their best foreign markets.
.na consequently. that they ought 70 help In
,.,s,e for IT, With Dreadnoughts rising in
-. r-oro 70 oO0. 600 to -. 100000 lSlz-inch
~rs are substituted for l2-inch batteries. IL
.rno, be doubted that a declaration OF this
,,-. will be received most graciously by the
...,hs- state Who can say-that II Will not be
sr equitable arrangement? The navy is for
oomn,on defence OF the empire. The colonies
might 10 do their part in paying for H.
The nroblem cannot be solved by voluntary
,-.-s IN emergencies Cape Colony has paid
.r cruiser: New Zealand has promised TO
r-,,sse battleship, or even two, IL necessary;
Australia has agreed 20 build and equip another
war vessel OF the same class. These generous
c~ers have been prompted by sentimental con-
s'dsratons IN serious crises. but do not Indicate
a consistent policy conducted on systematic
lines The Colonial Conference is designed 10
promote definite measures OF cooperation
These must go further than parliamentary
Grants IN the colonial capitals for naval defence
Neither the Colonial Office nor any Imperial
council can apportion the annual amounts TO be
voted BY one group OF another on the basis OF
Territory or population or overseas commerce
Each group OF colonies must be left 10 vote as
nuA or as little money as 1t chooses for the
common object IT viii be impracticable 70 reg
uzts the financial contributions: but II ought
MOTTO be impossible 10 define the principles on
which the colonies are prepared 20 cooperate
with the mother country in the defence Of the
overseas domnions and commerce II the con-
ference succeeds IN formulating working plan.
II will go a long way toward solving the prob
ZEN OF Imperial Federation.
Nr. Deskin, who is perhaps the greatest colo
NAL statesman has outlined proposal for the
maintenance OF colonial squadrons, with officers
and men trained IN the imperial navy. He be-
gan with the idea OF an Australian squadron.
with cruisers submarines and torpedo destroy
ers, and be has ended with direct proposal for
providing money and men and having the war
vessels built in English shipyards and the Off
GERS and crews trained with the British fleets.
II unfortunate that he is not here with Sir
joseph Ward. the New Zealand Premier, 20 ex-
pain his scheme; but the Australian delegates
nave been converted 20 his policy. and IL is
likely 10 hold the field when the conference set
ues down 20 practical work. Even IL the colo
mes Insist upon having squadrons In local wa
ers for home defence. they cannot deny that
'ne construction Of warships OF every class ought
70 De conducted IN England under the direction
VI tne Admiralty; can they offer reasonable
O0ecuon 70 imperial methods OF training and
supreme direction by the British Admiralty in
Sne OF war. This is at least the best lead which
90 been offered TO the conference. II points TO
ontary offers Of financial supplies for
aaeuon and maintenance, the training OF colo
so coht'ngents with the fleets in British waters
e"u the supremacy Of the Admiralty in the di-
,s0uon OF every local notilla I'm peace or In war.
As not the plan Of a local navy under local
1uuoL which he Canadian delegates advocate:
~ implies close association with the i'm
o. ADMIRALTY and substantial contributions
ule defence OF the empire.
tner ar. Deakin's plan nor any variant OF
De adopted without the organization OF an
~ council British experts may design
,r.'I ups British martinets may train the CO.
N. 'htlhgents. and the colonial fiotillas and
,,s imperial fleets may become INTERCHANGEABLE
nan. - centralized control; but soon
,ss s are voted regularly in the colonial capt.
@Hu Doth money and men are supplied for
- nsns.A oeience. there will have 10 be a per-
tan, representative body for arranging de-
hber.,- may be either an advisory or a de-