PROS AND CONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 44, 22 October 1913, Page 5

PROS AND CONS.

BRITAIN'S NAVAL POLICY,

POSITION OF THE DOMINIONS.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press .Association.]

London, October 21

A correspondent of The Times, referring to Mi- Winston Churchill'sj offer to Germany, says that apart fromj tiie effect such an. arrangement would! have upon the Continent, the oversea Dominions are to be considered. The general tone of the letter is an inquiry as to what will Australia and Xew Zealand say. The proposal seems impracticable and Utopian. The Times, in a leader, says the prooosed arrangement is impossible, because it does not prevent Germany from spending money on minor warships and submarines. France would! feel that it could not prevent Germany from spending money on new and costly increases to her army. American papers approve Mr Churchill's suggestions. They declare that after this proof of friendship it is only fair that Germany should take the next step. CONTINENTAL OPINION. London, October 21. The Daily Mail's Berlin correspondent says that the highest quarters strongly oppose Mr Churchill's proposals. The Berliner Tageblat't approves ot Mr C hurchill's plausible offers as a impb means of cheeking ruinous and .senseless competition in armaments, but it must be on an entire equality, with ,no Canadian Dreadnoughts, not must Britain build against Austria and Italy. . Tiie Morgenpost also approves of the suggestion. The Lokalanzeiger is uncompromisingly hostily, and other newspapers suggest that the proposal is a trick, British shipyards being behind witii their contracts while the German yards have not enough to do. The Kreutz Zeitung says that 'it ;he English cherish a desire for a incere political agreement they should forbid ."\lr Churchill's offensive oratorical interference with Germany's domestic affairs.

The Tageliche Rur.dschau says thai the 1911 Navy Estimates will be 23 nillions sterling. The Admiralty re commends a debate >n the immediate introduction of oil fuel i'or new warships. It calls atteniMi'to the- recent launching of th< 7''ieeu Elizabeth. , l

Hy Electric Telegraph- copyright 'imks—SydneV Sun Special Cables ('Received 10.'27 a.m.) Berlin, October 21.'

.-.The-, press pours out a mixture of indignation, contempt, and pity at Mr. Churchill's scheme. The Lokal Anzeiger attributes the proposal to a desire to anticipate a reduction in the German. Estimates, doubtless recognising, I'ightly, that the creation of a single breach would make the whole structure totter.

Conservative organs assert that England is trying all means to wreck the German navy law, not even hesitating to infringe the sovereignity of i foreign State.

FRENCH OPPOSITION. (Received 10.27 a.m.) Paris, Octher 21. While most of the newspapers are friendly to Mr Churchill's proposal, 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 the army the saving effected on battleships; There is a general agreement that France is unable to afford to sacrifice her naval programme, which was adopted with the hope of regaining her former position as a. naval power.