THE BRITISH NAVY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7819, 11 June 1909, Page 1

THE BRITISH NAVY.

IS AND SHALL BE SUPREME

St. Andrew's Hall; Glasgow, which holds almost five thousand; was packed m every corner on Saturday^ April 17th, when Mr Asquitli' appeared m fulfilment of a long-standing engagement to.address the Liberals of Glasgow. Mr.Asquith, who had an enthusiastic reception, referred at the outset to the disturbances m Turkey, and said it would be a tragedy if the first chapter m the new ahnak of emancipated Turkey were to close m civil tumult and fratricidal strife. The desire of this country was to see the Turkish Government carry out a policy of reform and' of good and just administration, and any Turkish Government which pursued these paths honestly, with a single eye to the public interest, might count upon the continued and strong sympathy of His Majesty's Government. (Cheers). Proceeding, the Premier asked what were the most urgent practical- problems which at. this moment confronted the statesmanship of the civilised world. The answer was that these problems were two —on the ono side the problem of armaments ; on the other side, the "problem of social reform. From the point of view of the progress of - humanity, there could hardly be a more.ironical juxtaposition (Hear, hear.) Dealing with the question of armaments, Mr Asquith said he had been described as a kind of Pinchbeck Palmerston dazzled with militarism, and that he dreamt m Dreadnoughts. It was true of himself, as .it was of every one of his colleagues, that there was not a man among them who' did not desire with all his heart to pursue and to provide every possible safeguard for peace, to eschew unnecessary adventures, to curtail unproductive expenditure, to consolidate this Empire, not by adding to its area," but by extending within its boundaries—as they had done with conspicuous success m South Africa— by extending within its boundaries the unifying influences of free and responsible Government. (Cheers). , . ; Naval supremacy, carrying with it the command of the sea, whatever it might be to other nations, was to us a master of life and death. (Cheers)'.. To those who said the Government hadnot gone far enough, he said there was no ground', for \ alarm or disquietude. The British Navy was at this moment and must m the immediate future continue to be, overwhelmingly ' superior, both m material and m personnel, not only to any single fleet, but to any combination-of fleets, that could by possibility be brought against it: (Cheers).. . „ The had given, the most explicit assurance that as soon, as the. necessity' arOse they would not hesitate to exercise at once the powers which they -were asking from the 'House.,'of Commons.' "If you believe that'that assurance is honestly given," added Mr Asquith, "m good faith by the responsible Government of the day, what more do .you want?" (Loud and continued cheers). He wanted, /he > proceeded,; to carry not only" his 'friendss;with him—he wanted to carry,' if he could, the sober Ijitdgment of the; nation rwith him m I this matter, which ought never 'to have been allowed to enter the domain of party controversy. (Hear, hear). ' Referring to the offers of the selfgoverning "colonies, which he described as gracious and tactful, Mr Asquith threw out the personal suggestion "that it might be possible that we should^ bring together into, consulta-tion—-if need be into formal conference^ —these groat colonies of the mother country, so as to consult as to our respective shares m this great interdependent work of the naval defence of the Empire. ■ (Hear, hear):