LIBERALS AND THE NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 51, 1 March 1909, Page 5

LIBERALS AND THE NAVY.

THE TRADITIONAL POLICY. MINISTERS IN AGREEMENT. I (Received 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, February 28. Mr. Joseph A. Pearse, one of the Junior Lords of the Treasury, said, during the course of a speech at Birmingham last night, that Ministers were in perfect agreement on trie matter of nava\ policy and expenditure for the coming year. During their three years of office they had saved nearly three millions in armaments, and surely a Government showing such a disposition to economise could be trusted, while caring for national interests, to safeguard the country and adhere to the traditional policy. INCREASE UNNECESSARY. CONSOLIDATING THE PARTY. LONDON, February 27. Sir Edward Evans, presiding at a meeting of the General Committee of the National Liberal Federation, said they heard much about increased armaments, but the Government would have to show good cause before Liberals would assent to any increase. The Government's policy of peace throughout the world was, he said, the strongest possible, and he added that if the .Conservatives came into power now there would be a frightful catastrophe, hardly exceeded by the Messina earthquake. After the rejection of an amendment trom Scarborough against a policy of unnecessary shipbuilding, a resolution by the Executive Committee was unanimously adopted reaffirming the principle of economy in naval and military expenditure. To this was added the" following:— " Tl,e committee cannot recognise on the evidence at present before the country that a cage has been established for the suggested increase of naval expenditure. '• Commenting upon the addition to the resolution the "Daily News" states that this refers to the demand for six Dreadnoughts in 1909, and probably six more in 1910. "The Federation's resolution as we have reason to believe," it adds, "has not only saved the Government from speedy disruption, but has maintained the great ideal of Liberalism." The "Times," after referring to the firmness shown by Mr. Asquith in dealing with the deputation from the Trades Union Congress, expresses the hope thnt the same attitude will be unflinchingly maintained in the probable event of an open struggle in the party over the naval Estimates. RULES OF SEA-FIGHTING. WORK OF THE NAVAL CON- ! FERENCE. LONDON, February 27. The Naval Conference in London has signed an important declaration, consisting of 71 articles, embodying the recognised rules of warfare.