NEWSPAPERS ON THE DEBATE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 1 April 1909, Page 2

NEWSPAPERS ON THE DEBATE.

MR ASQUITH'S CANDOUR. (Pbess Association — Copyright.] t .., tt London, March 30. In tho House of Commons, Mr McKenna First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply to Sir Henry Norman, hinted at certain preparations for a contingent Dreadnought, including designs already in hand. The "Westminster Gazette" commends the Government for adhering to the Naval estimates, and emphasises the need of a sufficiently wide margin of security to save us from the perpetual scrutiny by our neighbours. The paper adds: "We must replace tte present fleet by Dreadnoughts in a longer or shorter time. Wo cannot flatter ourselves that we have any superior resources enabling ?ay teHo^ time if We de " " The Times " says that Mr AsQuiths candour in disclosing the perils of the naval situation is in the eyes of the country the brightest point in the history of his administration; but his proposed measures are indefensible in the light of Sir Edward Grey s very lucid statement justifvmg every «nticism by serious students of the situation.. The paper adds that the cumulative effect of Sir Edward Grey's survey should convince the Government for.the necessity for Sibh?dat° UghtS at the earliest