MR. BALFOUES WARNING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 7

MR. BALFOUES WARNING.

THE LOWEST MARGIN OF SAFETY. K.ONDON, Bth May. After severely / criticising, during a,, speech at a Priflurose League meetiui,,. the proposals contained in Mr. LlaydGeorge's Budget, Mr. A. J. Baliouv, leader of the Opposition, declared that he placed the / Navy issue before the Budget in importance. Mr. Balfourj, proceeding, urged that the Government's neglect of- the Na^vy constituted a) grave peril to Britain by running her /margin of superiority much too fine for /the national security. Ministers^-were well awaie, he asserted, that eight,' Dreadnoughts were needed. It was perfect folly for them not 'to come forward /aad make a clean breast of it, admitting, that circumstances had so changed that they were compelled to. hasten their programme, and that their calculations had been run too close. " Mjp every method, whether gentle -or violent, has been adopted to try and persuade the Government to confess that their, actions have been ineflicsacious. " Mr. Balfour concluded : " The gigantic sacrifices which the nation will be called* upon to make during tae next decade, and perhaps for long after, ought to begin at once. It is the duty of the Government, at whatever cost, to provide, not merely the barest possible margin compared with any other country and its immediate allies, but superiority of the only kind which could secure henour for the country and peace for the world, namely, a strength which could not possibly be- challenged."