"UGLY SUSPICION."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1909, Page 5

"UGLY SUSPICION."

NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER. PRESS OPINION, MR. ASQUITH ACCUSED .OF, FENCING. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received March 27, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. The Pall Mall Gazette declares that Mr. Asquith's method of fencing with' New Zealand's offer has raised an ugly suspicion that while* seeming to welcome it he is really mocking it and evading 'its purpose. "New Zealand," says the Gazette, "never intended to replace a vessel which would otherwise have beeu built by the British taxpayers. If New Zealand's generosity is merely employed to further the aims of the 'Little Navy' party, bitter indignation will be provoked."- - ' GERMAN PROTESTATIONS. RUSSIAN PAPER'S COMMENT. "SECRET MILITANT PREPARATIONS." (Received March 27, 8.25 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, 26th March. The St. Petersburg journal Novoe Vremya, commenting on the British naval agitation, contrasts Germany's protestations of friendship with her hasty secret militant preparations. KEIR HARDIE SPEAKS. "INSULT TO THE MAJESTY OF THE MOTHER COUNTRY." • "NO FOUNDATION FOR MISERABLE SCARE."(Received March 27, .8.20 a.m.) LONDON, 26£h March. Mr. Keir Hardie, Labour M.P., speaking at South Norwood, declared that the Labour party considers the colonial offers to assist the Navy an insult to the greatness and majesty of the Mother Country. There was, he said, no foundation for the. miserable scare. A WARNING. SIGN OF GERMAN INFLEXIBILITY. (Received March 27, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. Some German newspapers admit that the action of the Reichstag in voting the Naval Estimates without debate was meant as a warning to foreign countries of German inflexibility. CENSURE MOTION. MR. A. H. LEE WILL MOVE IT. MR BALFOUR V*. ILL SPEAK AT CLOSE OF DEBATE. LONDON, 26th March. It is now arranged that in the House of Commons, Mr. A. H. Lee (Civil Lord of the Admiralty in the Balfour Ministry) shall move a vote of censure on the Government in terms, identical with Mr. Balfour's motion, that the immediate provision for battleships of • the newest type proposed by tho Government is insufficient to secure the safety of the Empire. Mr. Balfoui will reserve his speech till the close of the debate in the hope that the Government's final pronouncement will obviate a division on party lines. HOW LABOUR MEMBERS WILL VOTE. A STIPULATION. (Received March 27, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. Labour members of the House of ! Commons have decided to vote against the censure motion, provided Cabinet on, Monday announces that it will not go beyond Mr. Asquith's present position regarding warship construction. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. AT CHARING CROSS. REGRET IN CONNECTION WITH NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER. LONDON, 26th March. An enthusiastic meeting, held in the playhouse at Charing Cross, under the auspices of tho Navy League, demanded that eight Dreadnoughts should be begun and completed at the earliest possible date. Lieutenant C. W. Bellairs, Liberal member for King's Lynn, who was the mover of the resolution, regretted that New Zealand's offer — as an immediate offer — had not been accepted, and that the Government was utilising it to mitigate Britain's own expenditure in 1910. AN APPEAL. LORD MAYOR IN SYDNEY ASKS FOR £250,000. SYDNEY, 26th March. Tho Lord Mayor is issuing an appeal to the people of the State for £250,000 towards the Dreadnought fund. He says that this amount, backed by the handsome support he expects from the State Government, will relieve tho State from the stigma of selfishness or indifference. A strong and influential committee has been appointed to act with the &ord Ma^or in the matter.