The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-20

difference and we have before is 4
uniting plan which could not concaIv-
ably have been framed II the problem
had been approached iii the state OF
mind Of those who's one idea OF bring
Ing the empire together Ii to draw the
bonds SO tight that they cut into sorne-
body's flesh.
This scheme liz on more point Co the
credit Of the last imperial conference,
which, 80 far from having been d fall
ure, - now seen to have been by far
the most important and productive
ever held.
A logical outcome of the establish
metn Of separate navies in the do
minions win be more regular consuIta-
ton with the dominions tn foreign af-
Iairs, It IL impossible to use local nav
les as the instruments of imperial pol
ICY without having ne owners Of those
navies In agreement with the policy.
Already the dominion premiers have
been consulted az the revision OF
the Anglo Japanese treaty, and the
treaty in Its new form has their APP
prevail. There is no longer an Instant
menace OF the Australians being asked
to outrage their Instincts and take
arms on behalf OF Asiatics against
Americans.
When the scheme Of imperial naval
defense, which is now launched re-
velops--and of course, the dominion
navies will grow larger and larger as
time passes-the empire will be held
together through a continually In
creasing sense OF having invested In q
common Insurance. premium. We do
not see how the members OF such q
spontaneous pc 'tnerGhip can fall
asunder and talk about failure to
knit the empire together will gradually
fade away through sheer futility.
Tn 1909, when a conference was sum-
noned TO discuss imperial defense. the
dominions had already practically de-
termined TO have their own navies, but
the view Of the admiralty was that 1t
would be better for the local navies
to be under the direct control of the
admiralty, both in peace and war.
That was a very natural view for the
admiralty to take. Probably IL any
one Of us were made responsible for
the conduct OF q naval war he would
prefer at first sight to have the train
ing Of all the crews under his own
supervision. But on further thought
the balance OF advantage is seen to be
enormously on the side OF such
scheme as has been adopted. III the
dominions surrender the right to
manage their own navies or IL they
only paid a money contribution to the
imperial navy. they would have neith-
er very great interest nor a very
great sense Of the responsibility In the
business. Great Britain may count on
the maximum Of enthusiasm and the
maximum Of expenditure under the
present scheme.
But difference ID to be noted in |
the conditions under which Canada |
and Australia are to put their navies
at the disposal OF the admiralty for
war. Canada has undertaken to do 80
only il the Canadian government APP
proves Of the war; Australia has UNI
dertaken to do so not exactly auto |
maticaIly, but by resolution OF the
government, to which no reservation
about approval Of the war has been /
in advance. In practice the
difference will amount to little or |
nothing. Great Britain is never likely |
to enter upon war unless 1t ID forced /
upon her. and Canadian opinion +
would be so strongly in favor Of help
ing Great Britain in anything but a
manffestly unjust war that 1t would /
be impossible for the Canadian gov I
eminent to hold out.
There is another consideration /
which we have already mentioned. I
No enemy at war with us would allow /
Canada to remain neutral AS an es-
sentiaI part Of the British empire, she
would be exposed to attack IL Great
Britain were at war. If, therefore.
she were compelled, as she would be.
TO defend herself. it would be better
that she should take measures for her
defense as in the opinion Of naval ex-
perts gave her the best chance OF de-
Tending herself successfully.
We regard the whole scheme as one
Of the most inspiring signs of our
day, for 1t Is above all a beautiful
Illustration Of how the empire works
put its salvation, responding earnest
" and generously to particular needs
- they arise, In spite OF ali the
gloomy Vaccinations Of those who
tell us that nothing is being done.