THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 8

THE NAVY.

MR. BALFOUR APPEALS TO THE NATION. COLONIAL SYMPATHY. Mr. Balfour addressed a mass meeting, numbering over seven thousand, in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, on March 30, and dealt lucidly and forcefully with the Navy question. Lord Farquhar presided! Mr. Balfour spoke with his usual fluency, his voice carrying well to the furthest, corners of tho hall. Tho enthusiasm of the meeting reached its highest point when Mr. Balfour, with characteristic gesture, asked: "Can wo doubt, after recent events, that the country is on our side!" 1 There was a wild burst of cheering, to be renewed-,a moment later when Mr. Balfour pointed to "my old and valued friend," N Sir Robert HermonHodgo, tho victor of Croydon, who.was sitting on his right. Mr. Balfour spoke for nearly an'hour, the principal points is his speech being:—. Slowly, no, not slowly, but gradually,,the tide has been rising in favour of the party to which wo belong. I do not doubt that at whatever moment it may suit the policy of tho tacticians who now manage or mismanage the affairs of tho Empire to ask what tho opinion of electors is upon tho great questions at issue—I, for my own part, do not doubt what will be the verdict returned. ' On the Government's own statement—on tho figures they have provided—it is clear that they havo neglected the interests of the Empire in its) most important and most vulnerable point. I never desired that any subject in which I take ail interest should be a question of party politics.. I would always, rather, that the great national interests wero settled by agreement. ' < If ono party in tho State obstinately refuses t-o carry out its primary "function —as I think tho present Government does, or has refused up to a few days ago to do—are we, the Unionists, to remain silent, acquiescent, humble, respectful, • when all "our arguments have been rejected and cur pleadings have fallen on deaf and unheeding ears? My complaint of tho present Government is not that certain members have shown too faint appreciation of their great'task, but that they havo not sst themselves to work in their own time, in tho fleeting moments of their power, to deal with a great national necessity as it deserves to be dealt with. The Unionist party, I verily believe, is forcing tho Government to adopt tho only courso open to it in' connection • with our naval policy. , There are some political prophets so shortsighted; as to supposo that tho outburst of national and Imperial feeling elicited by our discussions of tho last few days is a transitory shooting star across the political , heavens—a brilliant blazo destined to be-extinguished as soon as it is lit. They are poor prophets who thus think. For three years >1 and. my friends have pleaded for a > greater Navy, especially in respect of Dreadnoughts. For three years wo have pointed out the inevitable dangers ahead of us. The Government never suggested that they wero conscious-of', those, dangers until ten ; days ago. ' • Was it not the duty of the Government to forecast these (naval) possibilities, and not allow the fate of this Empire to hang by a thread!' • . Tho Unionist party have taken, the only course open to' them as patriots arid men of honour to bring the great issue-of the Navy before a power before which oven the House of: Commons must bow—the. great public opinion ,of the country. In tho last three weeks there' has been born in'the public mind of this country, and of tho Empire, a conviction which is going to dominato tho naval policy long after I havo left the scene of activo politics. Can wo doubt that after recent events the country is on our side? One result of recent events is the .permanent awakening of public ■ feeling in these, islands.. ' A wave of Imperial sentiment has spread with telegraphic rapidity to tho furthest ends of the world. 1 am satisfied withi the Government's response to Now Zealand's offer—it has been accepted, conditionally, for some subsequent occasion. '. Tho Government lias taken this Dreadnought as a, relief to. tho British taxpayer —not so mucli to strengthen our naval position as to diminish tho burden on the taxpayer. Are wo 1 not, out of a new 'fiscal system which-must be born of our necessities, if lot of our wishes,' to give our Coiomes that which they ask for (preference) ? ,