MR BALFOUR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 6 January 1910, Page 5

MR BALFOUR.

CRITICISES LIBERAL POLICY.

NAVAL SUPREMACY.

"LIVING ON UNIONIST

BATTLESHIP^"

COLONIAL "INVITATIONS."

[press association.] {Received Jan. 5,, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. S. Mr Balfpur, speaking at Hantey, * saw-! that the crisis revealed the fact that different ideals were growing Wp, separating "the community into two igrea't sections widely divergent, effecting not matters of detail bui *he whole foundation on which the Empire rested and the whole foiture <o? its 'development. The issues were of such magnitude that he ntust reserve for future discussion the questions of this/Constitution, reform of second Chamber, Home Rule, freedom in selecting the form of religious teaching for their •Children, and other questions. Mr Balfotir proceded t© consider ques^aon or defences. He reTratted the accusation -that he was •making party capital out of the ■Navy. The adequacy of naval prejparat'ions was questioned only after 'Ministerial statements "had been made. He contended that when the Uriion"ista left office fhe strength of the 'battleships was overwhelming, and there were ample naval stores. The since then had been living on those battleships and consuming those stores. Referring to, Mr "Miilliner's revelations, he remarked that not until the truth leaked out -or was extracted almost fby process of 'torture did the country begin "to -resilise the unprecedented position "that its naval superiority on its own seas was threatened in the near :future

"Everything depends on the Nav : y.. We -exist as an Empire only on sufferance unless tne : Navy be supreme. Ido not believe that there is > going to be any war between Britain and any Great Power, but the only way you can secure peace is to be sure of victory if war occurs." The speaker " proceeded to urge tariff reform as the best w^y of raising revenue, giving security to our producers and increasing the productive capacity of the country. He looked also to its effects overseas.

"We must work out our Imperial salvation by wisdom, moderation, mutual understanding and compre"hension between the various equal self-governing democracies of the ■"Empire." The welding into closer unity of so curiously formed a body will require the labours of successive generations of statesmen". Let us take one step at- a time, as it commends itself to our commonsense and that of our fellow-citizens across the seas.' 3 He would never associate .himself with a party which, when invited by our children to take the plain step of preference, thereby promoting closer unity, repudiated the invitation with scorn.