MEDITERRANEAN FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 166, 12 July 1912, Page 5

MEDITERRANEAN FLEET.

■■■■it ■ ■ ■ " TO BE RETAINED. EQUAL FORCE TO TRIPLICE. RELATIONS 'WITH GERMANY. STATEMENT BY SIR E. GREY. (By Cable.— Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON. July 11. References to the Mediterranean fleet and the British foreign policy were made by Sir Edward Grey (Minister for Foreign Affairs) in a speech during a discussion on the Foreign Office vote -in the House of Commons last evening. Sir Edward pointed out that it was necessary to keep a sufficient margin of strength in the Home, waters, otherwise they must fall into a position of inferiority. The foreign policy alone would not protect the, United Kingdom. GREAT FACTOR FOR PEACE. The Anglo-Japanese alliance, he said, had been a great factor for peace, and had prevented the recent disturbances in China resulting in international complication-*. It was necessary to keep a force in the Mediterranean which would be able to cope with other Powers. "Although." he continued, "there is no prospect of :> quarrel in the Mediterranean, if we abandoned it altogether .the diplomatic situat'on might be strained; therefore we ought to keep a sufficient force to enable us to be counted as a Power there." FOREIGN POLICY UNCHANGED. In view of the coming debates. Sir Edward said that he would not say more on this subject. He remarked, however, that the foreign policy remained unchanged. The starting point of any new development was the maintenance of friendship with Russia and France. He welcomed the meeting of the Kaiser nni the Czar. EXCELLENT RELATIONS. " Our relations with iGermany," Ihe went on to say. " are excellent. We are perfectly frank with each other on all questions of mutual interest. When the questions relating to the interests in Africa or the Baghdad railway came up the discussion on both convinced us that the mutual interests could -bo easily reconciled.'' The Government did not contemplate ' any measures for restoring order in , Southern 'Persia, except by the encourI -agemerrt of the Swedish officers who were now organising a force of gendarmes, THE UNIONIST VIEW. Mr. Bonar Ijaw (Leader of -the Opposition) said that he considered that a ; navy in the Mediterranean strong enough to overcome any probable combination, was essential to the existence of the Empire. Continuing, he Raid that he did not desire anything but -Hie best understanding wifh Germany. It wis inconceivable that they could have a war with Germany without involving the whole of Europe. Germany's trade interests were against war. but nevertheless it was the duty of the Government to make preparations against a possible war.

DELATED CONSTRUCTION.

ALL-BRITISH WARSHIPS. A COMPLEX AND SECRET REASON. (Received 0.35 a.m.) M-ELBOURNF.. this day. Advices from I/mdon report that the arrival of the Commonwealth cruisers Australia and Melbourne will be postponed from December until April. The delay in completion is due partly 1 to industrial (roubles, partly to a more \ complex reason which the Admiralty I states is delaying the construction of all ! British warships, but of which no further j explanation is offered. j

BREATH OF EMPIRE'S LIFE.

CANADA FOR SINGLE NAVY. LONDON. July 11. In a speech at a Royal Colonial Institute dinner the Prime Minister of Canada ' (Mr. R. L. Borden) said that the Canadians realised that the supremacy of Great Britain on the sens was the' Empire's very breath of life. The Canadians bad never shown themselves afraid of responsibility, but it was proposed to sacrifice their autonomy in regard to the Empire's sea defence.* It was best to have one strong navy, but those responsible for Imperial defence must have a voice in the policy that shaped the issues. Canada, Mr. Borden went on to say. meant to be a great part of a. great whole, but she did not propose to be a mere adjunct, even of the British Empire. Tho redistribution of the Rritish fleet to meet the changed conditions in the North Sea necessitated the Mediterranean being denuded of its former strength. Ten years ago the station based in Malta was the prid" of the British fleet, and ten of the finest battleships were on duty there. The . number was gradually reduced until only four were left, and it was decided to base these on Gibraltar, so that, in the event of war ill the North Sea, they could be hurried to the assistance of the fleet there. This left the Mediterranean practically bare of ships, at a time when the Triple Alliance is straining every nerve to build up fleets on the highway to the East, and it. also left Egypt exposed to attack. At. the end of May a conference was held at Malta between Mr. Asquith. Mr. Churchill, Lord Kitchener and General Sir lan Hamilton. Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, at which it is conjectured Kitchener opposed the proposals of the Admiralty. The bigger ships of the station went Home last week to participate in the Spithead review, but it was announced by Mr. Churchill that they would go back again, while Sir E. Grey's announcement means that other vessels will be constructed for the guardianship of British interests in the Middle Sea- ; ■ . ' i ——