THE BRITISH NAVY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13898, 9 May 1907, Page 2

THE BRITISH NAVY.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The speech of the Financial Secretary to tho Admiralty, in introducing tho Navy Estimates on March 5, absorbed the attention of tho House of Commons and aroused ono of tbo liveliest debates'of recent times. Mr Robertson said if was nino years sineo the Estimates for new construction had been so low. He added that members, with tho colonial Prime Ministers, would inspect tho fleet and the Dreadnought on May 3. He was charged by tho Admiralty to say that in its opinion tho two-Power standard would be adequately maintained in tho programme of shipbuilding this year. In regard to completed ships of (ho new types, in the spring of 1909 we should have completed six battleships and three cruisers;

neither France nor Germany would have a single, ship completed. In tho autumn of 1909 Franco would still havo none of the new types, but Germany two battleships and one cruiser. In the autumn of 1910 wo should have eight, or it might be nine— if The. Hague Conference prove abortive and wo lay down three Ihis year--battle-chips completed and afloat, and three cruisers completed, France would havo two battleships, and Germany four battleships and two cruisers. Mr Lee, who was at tho Board of A'dmirally in the last Administration, opened Iho debate. He wanted to know whoro the Prime Minister's disarmament enthusiasm was going to lead us. Hitherto wo had had the two-Power standard, without reference to any particular two Powers, yet the Prime Minister had. in July, in language which had caused anxiety, described that idea as a twoPowor standard of an almost preposterous kind.

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman dilated on what it would moan to Mid world if a cessation of tho rivalry of armamen's could bo broucht about, lie believed Germany to lie the friend of peace, and it was neither £ood tactics nor pood taf-to to a.«uino that a Great Power had any other object than peace. We desired, t-aid the Prime Minister to place ourselves in tho front rank of those who considered that the warlike attitude of the Powers as displayed by the excess!vo growth of armaments was n curse to Europe, and that tho eooner it \v;is checked the better.

The new reading of tho two-Power standard brought Mr Palfour np with Ihe obvious intention 1o force a clear understanding. Did the Prime Minister adhere to the new version he had given last year?

" I adhere to the two-Power standard entirely as a rule," interpolated tho Prime Minister.

" -As. a ruin!" exclaimed Mr Balfour, with a smile. Die view of the Prime Minister now scorned to be that, while the twoPower standard was a convenient phrase, ami might represent ft good working hyimtliesis, yet if we felt on really good terms with one of the groat naval Powers we miirht safely and quite patriotically fall below that standard. "I think that is n mo*t. serious thin"-." said Mr Balfour.

Interchanges of aeid sentences between tho two front benches now became frequent. Mr Balfour was referring to the timq when

foreign Powere shall have decided upon tho type with which they will meet tho Dreadnought

"When will that timo have arrived!" asked Mr Robertson icily.

"In three and a-half years," paid -Vlr Balfour.

" Certainly not—nothing like it," was Mr Robertson's curt rejoinder. Mr Balfour said Mr Robertson could chco-e his own date. Tho point, was that foreign nations did not intend to incrcaso their naval strength, and were pausing just now because they bad not determined upon their type of ship. But when this pause ended then would come probably a strain on this House and a. burden on the taxpayer, and then would have to lie determined whether we should follow the easy path the Prime Minister had eccmnl to indicate, or whether at all costs we should adhere to the true. two-Power standard. He hoped the nation would lie ready and the House of Commons patriotic enough to make any sacrifice's necessary to ensire this great end. Mr Balfour j>roceedcd to chaff the ckss of politician who made tho fundamental error of thinking that it real policy could be covered up by bcnovolcnt platitudes in a manner to disguise it from tho detection of European statesmen. It was cruite impossible for the Prime Minister to ride two horses at once. He could not explain to his own country how he had increased the strength of the army and navy, and yet persuade other people that ho had made great sacrifices in tho interests of international disarmament.

The liveliest incident was now to come. Mr Bellairs, who sits on the Government side, had an amendment on the paper affirming the House's adherence "to'tho twoPower standard, as defined by successive Cabinets to mean that the annual shipbuilding programme should he framed so as to give tho British navy a margin of superiority over the two strongest naval Powers in the number of efficient armoured ships intended to be used as battleship's, together mth fueh a superiority in the number of efficient cruisers as will enable them adequately to perform their work as scouts, look-out vessels, and commerce defenders in a war with the two strongest naval Powers. aßobcrtso nytioinmationshrdlu shrdlnu upu Jlr Whitoloy, tho chief Government Whip, was 6eon in brisk conversation with the nontenant, but _ tho latter was not diverted from moving his amendment, which placed the supporters of the Government, in a quandary. For w'hilo they had shouted " Agreed " to Mr Balfour's definition of tho two-Power standard, they could hardly carry their unanimity to the length of voting for what amounted to a censure of tho Government.

The Prime Minister came tothe rescue with an appeal to Mr Bellairs to withdraw his amendment, as it was Important to expedite business so as to get on with Supply— a reason which was received with Unionist scoffing and ribald laughter.

Jlr Austen Chamberlain innocently be.ggcd that the Holiso might Ix> allowed to voto on the question, especially as they had already shouted their concurrence with it: but after a few minutes' of considorablo tension, Mr Bellairs withdrew—remarking significantly that tho rules prohibited him from saying more.