PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
mmimmil... T། T ། །C:O. 885
8
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
20
The second point on which I want to lay special stress is this.
At present there is only one agreement between the Imperial Government and any group of Colonial Governments in respect of naval affairs, although we have received generous-and independently proferred-aid from the Cape and from Natal- I allude to the Australasian Agreement. Now, gentlemen, I attach great importance to that agreement, because the statesmen who negotiated it and signed it have led the way in what I may call the Imperial consideration of this question of naval policy. But like every document that commences a policy, it has faults, and to my mind there is no fault greater in it than this, that the relations of the Australasian Governments to the Imperial are simply that of the man who pays to the man who supplies. The Australasian Governments pay us a certain contribution; for this contribution we supply them with a certain article. Now, this is good so far as it goes, but it does not, to my mind, go far enough. It does not give our New Zealand and Australian fellow countrymen the sense of personal interest, of personal possession in the British Navy, which I most of all desiderate for the future, and I want, not only the Colonial Governments to understand that on the naval protection of the Empire, exercised through a wise naval strategy, depends our future existence as a United Empire, but I want them to regard the navy as their own, at least, as much as ours, and with that object I wish to see in the Navy more Colonial officers and a contribution of Colonial seamen, I want, in fact, if I may use such a term, to increase the maritime spirit of the Empire. After all we are not in this country all sailors, yet we are all imbued with the maritime spirit. Here you have the great colonies covering vast geographical tracts of country; is there not a danger that in the far interior, unless we take precautions, the maritime spirit may be lost? I want to bring Australasia, Canada, and South Africa to understand, in the sense that the average Englishman understands it, that the sea is the one source of our greatness and our power; the one bond of union; the real source of our strength--if I may use such a mixed metaphor-that the sea is to the Empire as the breath of life; but it cannot be done, I opine, so long as we are only receivers of money. want to see New Zealand and Australian seamen in our Navy, Canadian and South African officers. I want to see from all parts of the Empire a personal contribution to the Navy, so that it may not only be an abstract Admiralty to govern the Navy, but an Admiralty that has won the confidence of the Colonies, because the Colonies understand its policy, and because in each Colony there are officers and men belonging to the Navy-an integral portion of the Navy. Those are the two points, gentlemen, on which I wish to lay special stress, and 1 can only conclude, as I began, by saying I am here at your service to answer any questions which you may wish to address to me.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Do you propose to lay any definite suggestions at this stage of the Conference?
The FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY': We are, of course, pre- pared with definite suggestions. I did not know whether you would like to have them raised in general form at the meeting or whether they. should be raised separately between the Admiralty and Canada and New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia and Natal and the Cape. We have them here if the Conference desires to have them.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: I take it that the details in any case would have to be discussed probably separately, and that that would be the most convenient and the quickest way of getting through our business; but I think that the Conference would probably like to discuss the general principles. What I rather anticipated was that you might be prepared to express in general terms what the Admiralty conceived would be the best scheme for carrying out the object which you have described, and also that we should take up the actual motion which is before the Conference in the name of the Premier of New Zealand. I do not know whether I am speaking the views of tny colleagues, but I imagine they would like to have your proposals as well as the proposals of New Zealand before them before a general discussion begins.
.
21
The FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY: Well, then, if I may supplement. my remarks on the suggestion of Mr. Chamberlain, of course I start with the Australasian Agreement. Sir John Forrest and the Commander-in-Chief. of the Australian station, Sir Lewis Beaumont, have had many conferences on this subject. The memorandum which is now being circulated gives to the Conference the effect of carrying out the schemo on the general lines of the discussion between Sir John Forrest and Sir Lewis Beaumont. The general purport of it is this, that a certain squadron of up-to-date cruisers would be attached to the Australian station. Of these cruisers we desire that at least one, if not two, should be manned exclusively by Australasians under the command of Imperial officers. We desire to establish a branch of the Royal Naval Reserve in New Zealand and Australia composed partly of men trained in this cruisor manned by Australasians and partly out of such materials as may be available from the existing naval brigades. The contribution which would be regulated under that scheme is stated in this memorandum, which of course can be discussed, and I want it to be clearly understood that the basis we have taken is the basis of discussion taken by Sir John Forrest with Sir Lewis Beaumont, and we thought that a fair and wise starting point. There will be no difficulty in time of peace in arranging that this squadron should be attached to Australasian waters, with this proviso, that I think it would be a real advantage for the ships of the squadron, especially for the ships manned by Australasians, that they should go to China, the East Indies, the Cape, and elsewhere, and work with the ships of other squadrons, but whenever they so do that ship could he replaced by a substitute from the squadron which she had gone to join. Therefore I do not think there will be any difficulty in time of peace as to the proper allocation of the force whose headquarters would be Australasian. But the principles which are laid down and on which I wish to lay great emphasis are that in time of war this squadron must be available to fight the opponents, the attackers of the Empire, in whatever part of the Eastern seas their ships are to be found. If the Admiralty knew from their intelligence that the French squadrons were moving eastwards towards Hong-Kong it should be possible for our Board to send the Australasian squadron to join the China squadron to meet these French- squadrons and fight them." Those principles mutalis mutantis c mld be applied to any of the other groups of Colonies. This schonte may be taken as one which would be applicable to the altering circumstances of each case, either to Canada or South Africa, and not only, applicable asa whole, but applicable in such parts as might be more feasible at the present moment in respect of those other groups of Colonies.
There is one old Colony, of course, to which this particular form of agree ment could not apply: that is Newfoundland, but then I hope the Admiralty will be able to debate with the Prime Minister, and arrive at an understanding as to that scheme for the establishment of a Naval Reserve, which was temporarily suspended owing to the fact that we found we had proceeded beyond our legal power, 1 may say that an Act of the Imperial Parliament recognising the enrolment of Colonial fishermen in the Royal Nava Reserve has now passed through all its stages in both Houses of Parliament and is only awaiting the Royal Assent, so there is no further hindrance to arriving at an understanding between His Majesty's Government and Newfoundland on that point.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Mr. Seddon, perhaps you would be good enough to explain and develop the proposals which you have brought to the notice of the Conference?
Mr. SEDDON: Mr. Chamberlain and Gentlemon, the motion of which I have given notice is applicable to the Naval Reserve as well as to the land forces, and in discussing this question we must of necessity divide the two. I may say that at the present time there is practically a scheme in existence similar to what is proposed. First, you have in Newfoundland the scheme which has been mentioned by Lord Selborne. Now, the principle they have gone on is that the Colony provides the main part of the equipment and the 08
115