BRITAIN'S NAVY

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 679, 31 March 1909, Page 5

BRITAIN'S NAVY

MOMENTOUS DEBATE IN COMMONS. PLAIN TALKING BY SIR E. GREY. GERMANY'S BIG BID. AND BRITAIN'S DETERMINATION. (Press Association.—By Telegraph.Copyright). Received Maroh 30,10.30 p.m. London, Last Night. Mr A. H. Lee, Conservative member for Fareham, moved the official Opposition motion in the Honse of Commons censuring the Government for failing to maintain a sufficient margin of safety in first-class ships. The motion v:as oonched in moderate terms. MR LEE LEADS OFF. SAFETY IN SHIPS, NOT PROMISES. Mr Lee denied that a public panic existed. There was only an acute and natural anxiety as the result of Mr Asqnith's speech in the House on the 16th hist, in wbioh he made grave admissions regarding the acceleration of the German shipbuilding rate. It was absurd, as Mr Asquith had done, to talk about Germany's treachery. Safety lay in iefusing to be influenced by any promise that she would not accelerate her building programme. A diplomatic declaration might beoome obsolete in a week, whereas it would take two years to construct a battleship.

SIR E. GREY REPLIES A STARTLING FORECAST. GERMAN FLEET OF 33 DREADNOUGHTS. BRITISH NAVY TO BE REBUILT The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir E. Grey, replied. He commended the absence of party feeling in Mr Lee'B speech, bnt said | the Opposition onght to have deferred censn'e until July, when the shipbuilding vote was considered, and more information on whioh to form a right judgment would be available. The House and the conntry were perfectly right in the view they took that the new situation created by the German programme was grave. When her programme was complete Germany would have 33 Dreadnoughts, the most powerful fleetlthe world had seen. That imposed on Britain the necessity of rebuilding her whole fleet. THE QUESTION-WHEN? BRIIAIN'S SUPERIOR RESOURCES. Sir E. Grey ooutinued that the element of uncertainty was when this must be done. The first necessity) therefore,, was to take stook of the plant of the-country. That the Admiralty had done. The British oapaoity for building hulls and propelling maohineiy and for manufacture of the largest guns was con. Biderably in excesß of Germany's. The doubtful point was our comparative oapaoity to provide gun mountings. The Admiralty had now arranged for manufacturer's to provide such an. inorease that in a few months a Bimilar advanoe would take place in this brand). WHAT MIGHT PRODUCE WAR. ISOLATION OF GERMNAY.

OR ISOLATION OF BRITAIN. THE BURDEN OF ARMAMENTS. "REFLECTION ON OIVILISA- ] TION." 1 Dealing with diplomatio relations < SirE. Grey insisted on the good 1 results of King Edward'B visit to , Berlin. Two things might produce conflict—(l) a British attempt to i isolate Germany; (2) the isolation ; of Britain in an attempt by any. Continental Power to dominate and diotate polioy on the" Continent. There was no reason to apprehend either contingency. European Powers were spending half their revenue in preparations to kill each other. The extent of this expenditure had beoome a satire and a reflection upon civilisation, bat •Britain must] be prepared to defend :her national existence under the conditions imposed on the generation. He was glad Colonies such as New Zealand reoognised that their national existenoe was one with ours .in this matter. BRITISH SUPREMAOT. ONLY BASIS OF LIMITATION. EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH GERMANY. Sir Edward oontinued :-The only possible basis of agreement for limitation is the acknowledgment of British naval superiority. InJanuary I made our information regarding the acceleration of the German programme known to Germany, adding "You must not be surprised if the Britsh Estimates are inoreased." Germany gave a verbal but quite I definite declaration that she will have 13 Dreadnoughts at the end

of 1912. This disposes of extreme apprehension regarding 1910-1911. The four British hypothetical Dreadnoughts are not intended to be a limitation of out next programme. National security shall have the benefit of any doubt.

THE PRIME MINISTER. A STRONG APPEAL. The Prime Minister (Mr Asquith) added little to Sir E. Grey'e remarks. He conoluded with a strong appeal to his supporters to give a voce of confidence. MR BALFOUR. A STERN TIME AHEAD. Mr A. J. Balfour (Leader of the Opposition), in winding up the debate, said the Government was replying on too small a margin of naval strength. The time was coming when a greater Btrain wonld be placed on our defensive resources than for a hundred years. The motion was rejected, the voting being :- For 134 votes Against '353 votes Lieut, Bellaires (Liberal Member for King's Lyn), Oapt. Smith (Liberal Member for Stratford) voted for the'motion. The Labourites voted against. Nationalists abstained from voting.