EMPIRE DEFENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8184, 27 July 1912, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE

DEBATE IN COMMONS PRIME . MINISTER ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. FRIENDLY ALL ROUND. By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyristu (Received July -d. ru.2o p.ni.) LONDON, July 26. In the House of Commons yesterday the Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, speaking on the Imperial Defence Committee Estimates, indicated that valuable work was being accomplished by the various sub-committees, particularly in the direction of co-ordinm-tiou of the various departments in war time. Ho referred to the significant and momentous occasion when overseas representatives were admitted to the committee’s confidence. International relations, the Premier said, were most friendly. The special friendships had stood the tost of time, and ho could say deliberately that no cause existed for quarrelling with any nation. Britain’s relations with Germany were marked by amity and goodwill. The conversations initiate ed by Lord Haldane Bad been continued in the spirit oi frankness on both sides. Mr Asquith regretted the lamentable increase in armaments. All the Powers knew that Britain had no aggressive purpose; that she coveted no heritage, and had no inclination to extend the range of her responsibilities. Her present expenditure meant simply the insurance of her world-wide interests.

distrust of the admiralty. Mr Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition, said ho mistrusted the Admiralty, owing to its vacillation over the Mediterranean position. The ' margin of superiority was too narrow, and he feared there had been some kind of Cabinet compromise. LIBERALS REASSURED.

Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said none of the Defence Committee’s decisions had been overruled by the Government. He informed Liberal malcontents who blamed the present foreign policy for the expenditure on armaments that if Britain reverted to a policy of splendid isolation there wopld he an increase in diplomatic fnation and it might he necessary enormously to increase her naval strength. Sir Edward Grey invited the advocates of limitation of armaments to say whether the baris of agreement should he the British fleet’s superiority or inferiority. THE “COMPROMISE.” “The Times” says the compromise Mr Bonar Law mentioned takes the form of refusing more than one milliqn of the surplus to the Navy as a set-off to the refusal to allot one or two millions to Insurance. Act purposes. “WHITTLED DOWN.”

Other newspapers comment on Mr Churchill’s gradual whittling away of the 60 per cent, margin superiority m Dreadnoughts demanded by him in his speech on the Navy Estimates in March last.

CANADA’S CONTRIBUTION,

SIX MILLIONS FOR DREADNOUGHTS.

(Received July 26, 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 26. The “Daily Mail” states that Sir Borden and his colleagues are ji’epared to recommend a contribution A £6,000,000 by Canada lor the construction of Dreadnoughts.'

THE FRENCH NAVY,

DEMAND FOR INCREASED EXPENDITURE.

PARIS, July 25. The newspapers are demanding increased expenditure on naval construction in view of the Austro-Hungarian and Italian naval programmes.