DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 82, 2 December 1912, Page 3

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

INDIA’S MAGNIFICENT OFFER. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright., (United Press Association.) London, November 30. Speaking at 'Aberdeen, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Lloyd George), referring to the Indian naval offer, said that the India Office was without information as to the practicability of the navy scheme, which was doubted in some quarters. The battleships would cost £6,750,000, and the battle cruisers £18,000,000, or, ii only armoured cruisers, £11,250,000. It was impossible for the princes tc find the amount, and it was undesirable to tax the natives.

GERMANY’S FRIENDLY POLICY. Berlin, November 30. The news of India’s naval sugges tion was received with the liveliest interest in the lobbies of the Reichstag General Liebert, the Pan-German leader, said that it was extraordinarily interesting, but would not force Germany into fresh naval legislation. As the British fleet was distributed, Germany, he was convinced, could bole her own in home waters. Her policy towards England was friendly.

TAKING THE INITIATIVE. London, November 30. The Daily Telegraph says that the navy scheme was conceived when Mi Borden visited London. Several princes were then approached by the Indian notables, Shakurshri, Jessrajsinghji and Seesodia, who secured the approval of the Maharajahs of Alwai and Jhalawar, and then communicated with the Princes of Gliavnagar, Bikaner, Jaipur, Kashmir, Jodhpur. Lirabdi, Mewar, Mysore, Nephal ano llewa. Those were favourable, as the plan demonstrated India’s loyaltj to the Empire. Shakurshri regretted that. Mr Churchill threw cold water or, the scheme, saying that he did not think it was practicable for a moment, but they were not discouraged, knowing that Governments were transient, and proceeded with their plans, which were received with enthusiasm in India. The Daily Mail’s Indian correspondent suggests that if the native princes desire to give further proof of their undoubted loyalty, they should increase the quotas of Imperial service troops, particularly infantry. Hitherto the State of Baroda had not raised service troops, though there had been several appeals. It would be a most undesirable departure to tax the natives for the British navy.

“CLEVER INTRIGUE.” London, November 30. The Daily News’ Parliamentary correspondent says that the offer is the outcome of clover intrigue. The islands of Mlaya having offered a cruiser, to be paid for in the more or less remote future, hints were dropped in other directions. The affair is a press campaign to levy a ship and money on the natives. It states that the princes will not pay a penny. The Morning Post deprecates the gift. India is already contributing heavily to Imperial defence through the British army. The democracy should not rest its security upon revenues derived from subject races. That would be an ignominious end to the British Empire.

“TWO KEELS TO ONE.” London, November 30. Lord Selbourne, speaking at Stroud, sympathised with the policy of two keels to one. It would bo absolute meanness to include the Dominions’ gifts in the Admiralty’s regular programme. LOUD ROBERTS CRITICISED. t ■ London, November 30. At. the Eighty Club dinner, Mr Churchill (Lord Haldane presiding) criticised Lord Roberts’ recent statements regarding Britain’s unreadiness and the failure, of the Territorial scheme. It was one thing, he said, to lead troops in the field, bo another to be a strategist. Lord Roberts had failed to appreciate that the

navy must be the first line of defence. It would be a profound blunder, for the (sake of compulsory service, to imperil the navy. It was impossible to find money for both the navy and army.

Lord Haldane strongly protested against national service. He noticed that the Opposition were also drifting towards compulsory service. Mr Churchill said that Britain, Germany, Italy and France desired peace. They had only to continue the sincere and simple policy which they had been following, and trust one another. This was a time of trouble. No Power could drive them from the path of sanity and honour. He reiterated his personal views on the federalism of Britain.

He advocated an Imperial Parliament as a single Assembly for the Government of the United Kingdom, but the Irish Parliament should be a preliminary.

THE “OBSERVER’S” OPINION. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, December 1. The Observer condemns the Daily News’ opinion as a narrow, petty, mean view. Mr Churchill had not made any secret of the fleet being enough to defend the Empire in home waters without a margin for more distant services. It was unlikely the Dominions would have their ships tied to European seas without any vessel free to aid them in their emergency. The Observer demands two keels to one with the Imperial ships additional. This would leave six ships free to join the Imperial patrol. The policy needed to effectively control the naval material of the Empire was conceivable if the ships had lavished upon them the strain of manning and maintaining which was a greater burden than that of aid.

LORDS HALDANE AND ROBERT'S. (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, December 1. Sir Edward Carson, at Warrington, said if Lord Haldane left the Woolsack to tackle Lord Roberts, the latter might drop his baton and sit on the Woolsack. Lord Haldane had told the nation Lord Roberts was not as good a strategist as the Lord Chancellor. The Pall Mall Gazette asserts that Lord Roberts has become the Government’s bugbear and laughs over Lord Haldane’s description of Lord Roberts as no strategist.