NAVAL AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 89, 11 October 1913, Page 5

NAVAL AFFAIRS

"LIBERAL PERTURBATIONS" SERIOUS BRITISH EFFORT NEEDED TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) LONDON, 10th October. Mr. Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) last evening addressed a Liberal gathering of women, and afterwards spoke at an open-air meeting in the outskirts of Dundee. At the first meeing, Mr. Churchill, referring to the " Liberal perturbations " at the growth of naval expenditure, said that a serious effort was required to make up lost time in order to reach a position in which the Empire would be beyond danger. While these developments in the British navy were being proceeded with, Britain's relations with Gremany had continually improved, and were now thoroughly satisfactory. There was more danger to be apprehended from ill-will through panic than from a display of calm assurance of strength. WHAT LIBERALS MUST DEMAND. ACCORDING TO A NEWSPAPER. (Received October 11, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, 10th October. The Daily Clironicle (Liberal) dissents from Mr. Churchill's references to the navy, and says that the diversion of foreign efforts from naval into military channels ought to ease the competition. "Liberals must demand a policy different from further acceleration of armaments at a terrific pace." STATEMENT BY FEDERAL PRIME* MINISTER. PROPOSED DEFENCE CONFERENC. MELBOURNE, 10th October. Speaking in the Federal House, Mr. Cook, the Prime Minister, in -reply to a question, stated that the Commonwealth Government had requested the Imperial Government to convene a conference of representatives of the Dominions and the United Kingdom in order to discuss Imperial matters generally, but primarily to consider defence questions. He added that he had had no official information that the proposed Defence Conference had been abandoned, as reported.