§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether an understanding has been arrived at with the Australian representatives to the Imperial Conference that the agreement under which Australia and New Zealand pay £240,000 a year towards the upkeep of an Imperial naval squadron in Australasian waters should be determined before 1910.
§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the question of general contribution to the Imperial Navy has been considered at the present Colonial Conference; and if the arrangement entered into in 1902 with the Governments of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand, by which the Australian Squadron is confined within specified waters, is considered satisfactory by the Admiralty.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIEALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON,) DundeeThe general question of Colonial contributions and the Australasian agreement were both discussed at the Conference, and Papers giving a report of the discussion will shortly be published. No action can be taken until the Colonial Prime Ministers have laid before their several Parliaments the proposals discussed between them and the Admiralty, and have obtained their consent to any proposed changes. Unless changes are agreed to, the Agreement of 1902 holds good till 1910.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)Is it the case that the Australian Government desire to withdraw their contribution to the Admiralty and apply it to local defence?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI can make no statement on that subject at the present time.