BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 105, 3 May 1912, Page 9

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS. EXCHANGE OP "nAVAL INFORMATION. (Frqm, Our Own Correspondent.) j LONDON, 23rd March. The Navy was again the subject of dis- i cussion in the Housd on Wedhesday ' night, when the First Lord made an exceedingly important ppronouncementt t with regard to negotiations with Germany for an exchange of naval information. During the debate there were scvoral open but friendly reference's to Germany. Following a criticism by Mr. Murray Maodonald, Mr., Winston Churchill said ho must remind ' the committee that Sir H. Campboll-Bannerman mado a sincere and bold effort^ in the first two" years of ; his administration to restrain the build- ! ing of now ships. The next strongest, naval Power, according to their original programme, -should have built two ships in each of tho years 1905*6, 1806-7, 1907-8, and one would have thought that after Sir H. Camp-bell-Bannerman's practical invitation some slackening would have^ ocourred. But the rate of shipbuilding of that Power' was increased, so that in tho year in which wo only built two ships tho next strongest naval Power began the construction of four, which was the two keels to one standard for the other Bide of tho picture. (Opposition cheers). Tho First Lord continued: "I wish I could bring myself to believo that a buddou act of restraint on .our part would break tho spell. 1 don't think it would. Wo can, however, femove from our naval discussions and policy the olemont of uncertainty, and I hops tho committee will sflo that the institution of an attempt to look ahead and forecast future construction may have the effect of romoving uncertainty. We may also be able to remove 'Suspicion. "Negotiations have for some time been in progress between this country and Germany for an exchange of naval information, " and 1 can assure the House that wo shall be 'very_ glad if those negotiations reach a satisfactory conclusion. We have nothing whatever to conceal in the scale of our shipbuilding. We shall always bo -ready to allow it to bo known what ships are in process of construction, and within general limits when they may bo expected to bo completed, provided, of course, that wo receive reciprocal facilities. "Lastly, if we afiserfc our claim, as we intend to do, to the supremo position on the sea, it is also our duty so to conduct ourselves that other nations shall fool that that greater power and greater response bility which are a necessity to us shall bo used in such a manner as to bo a monaco to none and a trust 'hold for all." (Loud cheers.; '

"That was an annoying coincidence," said Mr. Bliggins. "It took great tact to manago it. "What's the trouble?" "Tho pension oxaminor and tho life insurance doctor both called on mo ut tho wimo time."- • ;s; s