BRITISH POLITICS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 12 February 1909, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

[Press Association.— Coi-sbight.] A NAVAL LOAN PROBABLE. - .THE TERRITORIAL ARMY. T"HE IRISH CONVENTION. LONDON, Thursday. "The Times," in discussing the Biidgefc pospects, strongly hints that the Government, in. order to avoid .a reimposition of the sugar duty, agreed to a naval Joan, which, besides substantially re- " Jieving the taxpayer, wil offer a collateral advantage in establishing a certainty abroad Tegarding our future naval strength. Mr Haldane, Secretary of- State for .War, speaking at the Ritz Hotel, after emphasising, the opinion of the experts ot the general staff that continuity ' of policy; was essential, argued that the Territorials- were a practical force, and destined to placa the country on a sound basis of defence. _Ho added: "We are in negotiation with the Dominions over the seas with a view to" the creation and constitution of an army of 'the Empire, not of the Motherland merely." . Be concluded by announcing that a third- 'thousand* had been added to the London Territorials in response to the "Daily Mail's" appeal. The Irisff National Convention, against Mr Dillon '6 sttphely-'exprassed . view, largely recommended that the Irish Knguage should be made a compulsory subject in the curriculum of the new University..