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been worded to correspond with paragraph 8 (b) of the General Scheme of Defence (Appendix A). They also suggest for consideration that the Act should contain provisos for utilizing the services of civilians and the property of private persons for purposes of defence in time of war or national
emergency.
14. It is observed that such provisos are embodied in a draft Federal Defence Agreement which is bound up with the Report of the Conference referred to the Committee. As this draft Agreement and the proposed composition and powers of the Australian Council of Federal Defence do not appear to have been considered by the Conference, the Colonial Defence Com- mittee do not propose to further deal with them in these remarks beyond stating that they concur generally in the principles on which the proposals are based, and calling attention to the fact that it would not be possible for the Admiral to be ex officio member of the Council of Defence as suggested. The procedure by which the Council could best obtain the benefit of his advice and co-operation will doubtless be considered by the Admiralty when the Council has been formed and its powers defined.
15. The Sydney Conference recommended that a meeting of Represen- tatives from the Australian Colonies and Tasmania should be assembled with the least possible delay for the purpose of considering and accepting on behalf of their Governments the recommendations submitted by the Conference, and of defining exactly the powers of a Council for Australian Federal Defence.
The Colonial Defence Committee desire most strongly to endorse the recommendation that such a meeting should be assembled at once. A scheme like that under consideration, involving much organization, can only be of benefit in time of war if it has been most carefully elaborated in time of peace. Failing this, the Colonies of Australia and Tasmania will lose from defective organization the perfect security which their favourable position, their large expenditure on defences and defence forces, and the excellent quality of their personnel would otherwise give to them.
16. Finally, the Colonial Defence Committee desire to draw attention to the zealous efforts that have been made by the Military Commandants of Australia and Tasmania towards a solution of the difficult problem of Federal Military Defence.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
(Signed)
November 21, 1895.
Colonial Defence Committee.
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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T, HARRISON.—22/11/95.
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