WILL IT MEAN WAR?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 21 November 1911, Page 5

WILL IT MEAN WAR?

BUI TAIN AND GERMANY IX MOROCCO. THE GHUMAN NAN AI. BILL. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (.united Cross Association.) Berlin, November 20. According to the newspapers, Jviolor Newesto Nacbrichten, wJiose statement is uncontradicted, the Government have prepared a Navy Bill involucg an aauitional outlay of £17,500,000 sterling spread over seven years. OtJier newspapers declare that the Government will not introduce the Bill for that purpose, studying other means of meeting tlie public wishes.

The Germania declares that the now Navy Bill would lie such a sharp provocation to England that it might immediately lead to war. 'Die Socialist newspapers accuse the Germania of hypocrisy. The Bill, they say, is intended only for the election. Apart from the Germania’s protest against the alleged Bill, the only objections to naval increases emanate from the Socialists and Radicals.

OPINIONS OF THE ENGLISH PRESS. A GRAVE SITUATION. London, November 20. “The Times” shows by facts and dates that a.grave situation was caused by the revised terms in the Moroccan negotiations in August. .The difficulty coincided with tne British railway strike, and terminated with the settlement of the strike. It adds that naval and military precautions in September provided for any possible emergency in the future. The “Chronicle” admits that there wore differences in the Cabinet regarding the best way to assist France, in the event of hostilities, but the differences wore overcome and everything ready. The preparations were purely precautionary. Thb contents of Captain Faber’s speech it characterises as internationally dangerous. The “Telegraph” declares that the speech was mischievous. The “Standard” declares the diminution of friction between England and Germany and tho creation of a basis for a. better understanding must lie one of the principal aims of British foreign policy.

THE RIVALRY IN ARMAMENTS CONDEMNED. AN ECONOMIC ARGUMENT. Berlin, November 20. The “Frankfurter Zeitung” urges a decisive stand to prevent the prevailing irritation with England being used as a pretext for another alteration of the Navy Law in the direction of an increase, hitherto considered unnecessary. It warns Germany of the certainty of Britain correspondingly increasing her navy, which might compel even the Asquith Government to introduce new revenue duties as precursors of genuine protective duties, seriously injuring German trade. The “Tageblatf complains that the Ambassador was instructed only on the date of Mr. Lloyd-Georgc’s speech to verbally answer Sir E. Grey’s enouiry, and that the answer was not delivered in time.