NEUTRALITY QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 128, 22 July 1911, Page 5

NEUTRALITY QUESTION.

LORD SELBOURNE’S VIEWS. London, July 21. Lord Selbourne, in a letter in reply to the Volkstem’s article, shows that all parts of the Empire are dependent on the navy for safety. Its duty was to destroy the enemy’s ships wherever they were found. Under no circumstances could it be to the Empire’s interest that South Africa should remain neutral in case of war wherein the Empire might be engaged. The Admiralty had not spent £2,000,000 in dock yards at Simonstown for amusement. He continued: “Does anybody suppose that Simonstown can be used as a naval' base and the rest of South Africa remain neutral ? There is no part of the Empire Avhereto the command of the sea is more essential, and if South Africa lost the command of the sea the South Africans would bo unable to freely develop their nationality; and a foreign Power, possessing command of the sea, need only seize every port from Capetown to Delagoa to inflict on South Africa a complete loss trade, or compliance with its directions.”