NO CAUSE FOR QUARREL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 179, 27 July 1912, Page 5

NO CAUSE FOR QUARREL.

BRITAIN AND THE NATIONS. MR. ASQUITR'S SPEECH. THE INCREASED ARMAMENTS. INSURANCE Or TRADE. ißv C;.:•".: i-:e.*s Association.— LOKDOX. July 26. In speaking in the House of Commons last, night on the Defence Committee EsI timates, the. Prime Minister (Mr. As- ! quitlil indicated that valuable work might, be accomplished by various subcommittees, particularly in the direction of tho eo-ordinatiou of the various departments in war time. Mr. AMjiiilli referred to the significant and n;oinc.nto-.is occasion of the over*oas Dominions being admitted into the committee's confidence. The international relations, he said, we.re of the most friendly character. Special friendships had stood the test <>{ time, and he could say deliberately that no cause existed for Britain quarrelling with any nation. A SPIRIT OF FRANKNESS. British relations with Germany, he. said wpre marked by axnily and goodwill. The. "conversations" initiated by L-ord Haldailf! had been continued in a spirit of frankness on both side?. Mr. Asquitb said that he regretted the lamentable increase in the armaments. -All thf Powers. ■' he added, ""know that we have no agcrre>sivp purpose. We .■ove. no hiTi'apn .md lii'\e no inclination to e>.i. :i'i the r.iii-j" --i our responsibilities. "Our |iro.,oii;. o>.p.-iv]iiii:e." Mr. Asqunli concluded. • i- >iin[il>- an insurance of fir n-or)'l-\» id- , i:i:<Ti ,-i .- .'* A CABINET COMFF.OMISE. Mr. Bnnar l.an . l.r.ni- r , i :'•■■ i'ljiposilion i said t Mat !•■■ nii>i i■ ■ •■' tlio A!miralty, ov-imr '•>..■. ; ' ■' ■'n in i ■ gird to the Moiiii.'i r.-.!•■■!: i» -'.M. ■•. Th." 'ni-vin of iMpe-'i.'i |ii'">\ \A"i\ for. h<> Mid', «ac tor. i,arrow. lj. feared that there :viis; have Ikc;i -in. kind of .i ("'abinri roin]""-«"'mi.-.e. Sir l/lwafl (.icy iMmisirr for Foreign Affair.-1 s.ii.l ih.it none r ,i" II <■ !>■ f<m ■■ Committee's i!i > 'sions had ii?"!] overruled I v th' nrurnt. SPLENDID ISOLATION. Tie informed 'ho l.beral malcontents. who Warned 11 if Jcreipn policy for the in< rr.is- , in arniiroenl*. that if we reverted 10 a position of splendid isolation it would increase diplomatic friction, and it. might be n ,v ''"-s s;ll T to enormously infrensf c.i.r na\-n! strength. Sir Edward in\itH the advocates of ih,"s limitation of armaments to say wheiho" tho basis of agreemfrt should be t..:' i'.ritisii flocl's superiority or in-tV.-ir.ritv. Tlie •■Times' says; that the compromise in the Cabinet, which Mr. Bonar Law referred t,. in yesterday's debate takes th* form of refusing to cive more than a. million of the surplus to the navy as a set-off to thn refusal to allot one or two millions to national insurance purposes. SIXTY PER CENT MARGIN. hTne newspaper-- comment on Mr Winston Churchill.- gradual whittling away of the 60 per cent margin of 6uperiority in Dreadnoughts, as demanded by him in his speech o n t!.o \"an- Estimates in March last. MAD RACE FOB ARMAMENTS. DEMOCRATIC UNDERSTANDING (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON. July 26. Mr. A. Rountree (Liberal member for York) entertained at luncheon at the House of Commons 30 members of the fi'ermau Workers' Educational Association. Mr. Rountree urged the necessity for an understanding between the democracies of the two countries to escape tho mad race for armaments. KNITTING THE TIES. LONDON. July 26. The 'Times" suggests that Mr Asqmth (Prime Minister) and Mr Churchill i First Lord of the Admiralty) should visit. Canada, during the. recess. This, the '•Times" says, would mark a new date in the annai's of the Empire., md knit still closer the ties which the present visit of the. Canadian Minister? to Britain (ends to strengthen. THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET. (Received 10.20 a.m.f MALTA, Tnly 26. The destroyer flotilla, will lie increased ne>:t winter to 30. It is stated that a torpedo boat, several gonboats. and some submarines would go to Alexandria, with the Orontes as depot ship. SIX MILLIONS FOR WARSHIPS. CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION. LONDON". July 26. The. -Daily Mail' , states that the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr. R. L. Borden) and his colleagues are prepared to recommend the Canadian Parliament to make a contribution of fti.ooo,ooo for the construction of. Dreadnought.