CAB38-23 — Page 137

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Page 137

purposes, or on any question affecting the interests of the Navy in the Pacific.

It is not possible to foretell what may happen in the future, but it seems to me that the growth and development of Dominions like Canada, Australia, and South Africa must, in an evolu- tionary way, lead to an alteration in the organisa- tion for Imperial control. This readjustment at some future date has been in my mind, and I make the suggestion in this letter in the hope that the Mother Country, Australia, and New Zealand may make an experiment in the direction of common control in the South Pacific which, if successful, may assist the Empire in working out the problem of the future, namely, readjustment to suit the new conditions which are certain to arice.

It will give me pleasure to meet you at any time up to the 18th April, on which date I leave England on my return to New Zealand. I should be much obliged if you would give me a few days' notice of any meeting.

Yours faithfully,

Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill,

First Lord of the Admiralty,

London.

J. ALLEN.

Dear Colonel Allen,

April 7, 1913. We have now considered very carefully your letter of the 18th March.

Dealing first of all with their definite proposals, I am glad to say that the Admiralty are able to station three cruisers in New Zealand waters for the local protection of New Zealand and her com- merce and for general Imperial service. We are quite ready to assist you in building up a New Zealand Naval Reserve, and a scheme will be prepared in detail for that purpose. It will com- prise arrangements for the training of New Zealanders in the three cruisers of the New Zealand Squadron, and also for keeping the trained men requalified after they have completed their service afloat, as well as the procedure for commu- nication and consultation between the Officer Commanding the Squadron and the New Zealand Government on these matters.

CAB38-23 — Page 137

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