NAVAL RIVALRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 29

NAVAL RIVALRY

THE PROPOSED “ HOLIDAY.”

ARGENTINE AND BRAZIL.

A CUgIOUS POSITION

LONDON, October 21

The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail states that the highest quarters strongly oppose Mr Churchill’s proposals. The Berliner Tagcblatt approves of Mr Churchill’s plausible offer ae a simple means of checking ruinous and senseless competition in armaments, but it says there must be entire equality. There must be no Canadian dreadnoughts, nor must Britain build against Austria and Italy. The Morgen Post .also approve; of the offer. The Lokel Anzeiger is uncompromisingly hostile. . Other newspapers suggest a trick owing to British shipyards being behind with their contracts, while the German yards have not enough to do. The Deutche Zeitung says that if the English cherish a desire for a sincere political agreement they should forbid Mr Churchill’s offensive oratorical interference in German domestic affairs. The Taegliche Rundschau says that in 1914 the Navy Estimates will be £23,000,000. In the course of an interview Lord Selborne said he did not think that electioneering speeches constituted a proper method of opening communications with foreign Powers. The repeated alternations oL a blast from a syren and the murmur of a flute could produce nothing except international discord. The proper channel for such communication was the Foreign Office, which was quite competent to conduct negotiations with our foreign neighbours. It was impertinent for Britain to dictate to any foreign nation in respect to what concerned them alone. The naval standard best suited to present British requirements was two keels to one of the next strongest European naval Power. That standard, which was w ithin our national means, would'enable Britain fully to secure the great duty and responsibility of ensuring the development of every part of the Empire and w'ould also enable her not to exclude the Mediterranean. The control of the Mediterranean was as essential as the control of the North Sea and the English Channel. The less of Nelson’s life greatly needed to be learnt to-day. It was not what a man could get out of his country, but what he could give. PARIS, October 21. While most of the newspapers are friendly towards Mr Churchill’s proposals it is pointed out that, even if Germany agreed to the change, it would only complicate the military situation for France, as Germany could spend on her army the saving effected in the construction of battleships. So far as a general agreement is concerned France is unable to afford to sacrifice her naval programme, which she has adopted in the hope, of regaining her former position as a naval power. BERLIN, October 20. In a letter to the press Count Reventlow (the well-known critic) advises Mr Churchill to take a year’s holiday from speechmaking. He adds that the repetition of the British First Lord’s naval holiday notion aggravates instead of improves Anglo-German relatione. A parliamentary paper has been issued showing the proposed naval expenditure of the eight principal Powers for 1913-14. The figures are : —Great Britain, £47,021,636; personnel, 146,000. France, £20,847,763; "personnel, 63,596; Russia, £24,294,454; personnel, 52,463; Germany, £23,039.194; personnel, 73,176. Italy, £10,157,846; personnel, 37,095. Austria-Hungary, £6,CK)6,551; personnel, 19,091. United States, £29,498,867; personnel, 67,907. Japan, £9,860,912; personnel, unavailable. The Times, in a leader, says the offer is impossible because Britain cannot prevent Germany from spending money on minor warships and submarines. The American papers approve of Mr Churchill’s suggestions, and declare that after this proof of friendship it is only fair that Germany should take the next step. October 21. The press pour out a mixture of indignation, contempt, and pity for Mr Churchill’s scheme. The Lokal Anzeiger attributes the proposal to a desire to anticipate a reduction in the Gorman Naval Estimates, doubtless recognising, and rightly so, that the creation of a single breach would make the whole structure totter. The Conservative organs assert that England is trying, by all means in her power, to wreck the German Navy Law, not even hesitating to infringe the sovereignty of a foreign State. October 22. A semi-official statement save that no doubt Mr Churchill has sincerely good intentions, and has not spoken a word which could impair the development of AngloGerman friendliness, but the path whereon he seeks an amelioration of armaments will hardly lead to the goal. LONDON, October 26. Four years ago, when relations were somewhat strained, the Argentine and Brazil decided to utrengthen their navies.

The Argentine’s commitments with an American firm involved £4,500,000. Brazil ordered three Dreadnoughts, the last of which, the Rio de Janeiro, was recently launched in England. Hearing that the Argentine refused to take delivery of her ships, Brazil, which is temporarily embarrassed financially, is now trying to sell the Rio de Janeiro. Turkey nibbled, whereupon Greece made a bid, but Russia is now trying to outbid both.