ANGLO-GERMAN AMITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 197, 18 August 1908, Page 5

ANGLO-GERMAN AMITY.

BRITAIN'S NAVAL POLICY. SPEECH BY MR. CHURCHILL. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 17. Mr. Winston Churchill (President of the Board of Trade), speaking at Swansea, strongly deprecated the attempt by some people in Britain to spread the belief that war between Britain and Germany was inevitable. It was all nonsense, he said. Britain was an island, and no Government which was likely to be in power would depart in any degree from a naval policy securing the country effectively from an outside invasion. Secondly, Mr. Churchill went on, there was no collision of primary interests between Brtiain and Germany in any quarter of the globe. The Germans were among our very best customers.

Regarding the apprehension that some of the colonies were seizable, nothing, he declared, would alter the destiny of great communities like Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India. The colonies were pursuing their own path and their own destiny, which vuuld not be altered in the future as the result of any struggle in Europe. After ridiculing the idea that the two great countries were fighting for what remained—namely, tropical plantations and small scattered coaling stations—Mr. Churchill concluded by urging Home Rule for Ireland. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY. A " TIMES " SNUB. TO GEORGE AND CHITRCHH.Ii. (Received S.o a.m.) LONDON, August 17. "The Times" says that Britain's foreign policy is too gravely vital to be removed from the high plane of statesmanlike guidance by inexperienced politicians. Tlip "Standard" accuses Lloyd-George and Mr. Winston Churchill of assuming charge of foreign affairs with a view to ousting Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs). GREAT NAVAL LOAN. OFFERED BY FINANCIERS. TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARD. (Received S.o a.m.) LONDON, August 17. The "' Telegraph" declares that the Government is considering the offer of financiers to find a hundred millions on nominal terms to meet the necessities of the fleet without disorganising annual Budgets. This offer of aid is the result of renewed competition in naval armaments abroad, and is intended to show Britain's determination to maintain the two-Power standard. It is suggested that the revenue would meet normal expenditure, and the loan fund special requirements. An influential section of the Cabinet supports the proposal. The "Daily News" utterly discredits the naval loan report, and says that after speeches of folly and navy scare the country would not tolerate an increase of taxation to meet a navy panic. A GERMAN KINT. TALK OF DISARMAMENT. (Received 5.5 a.m.) BERLIN, August 17. Prince yo n Buelow's organ, the "Suddeutsche Reichs-Correspondenz," hinte that premature agitation for disarmament is calculated to impede British and German efforts to understand the aims of each other's naval policy.

Jhe Hon. T. A. Brassey, in his naval anirual, shows, by irrefutable facts, the commanding position of the British Fleet' as it ejuits to-day as a war engine ready lor any emergency, and then he proceeds to consider the outlook in view of foreign progress. With reference to ships of the Dreadnought type, including the lndoinitables, battleship-cruisers, we have, he indicates, a lead over any two Powers in such vessels built and building: indeed we shall have six at sea and completed by the summer, and no other country will have a single one finshed. So far that is eminently satisfactory. But while Britain ha-s two projected, Germany has four to be laid down this year, the United States two, and Italy one. Herein is the cause for anxiety. Next spring the balance of ships projected must he adjusted in Britain's favour, or in 1011 she may nave fallen below the two-Power standard in completed ships. After 1910 our relative position will rapidly deteriorate, says Mr. Brassey, unless more battleships are laid down at do distant date. In 1911, apart from ships not yet projected, only one hattleship will be completed for the British navy as against two for the United States, three for Germany, and four for France. At the end of that year we shall have fifty-one battleships, as against fifty-twd for Germany and the United States. A considerable addition to oar battleehip programme is required next year. Battleships laid down after March 31, 1909, could be completed before the end of 1911. This conclusion is somewhat vitiated', however, by a footnote, in which Mr. Brassey explains that he has not included in his calculations the crui-ser-battleships of the Indomitable type, with their eight 12in. guns. If this is done, the British total at the end of 1911 will be 55, as compared with 25 for the United States and 29 for Germany, including two German battleship-cruisers —an aggregate for the two countries of 54. But the conclusion on the bare facts is that there must be a big programme for this country ne-xt year, particularly in view of the fact that in 1912 Germane total of completed ships will be swollen by four units.