Britain & Germany.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5155, 12 November 1912, Page 4

Britain & Germany.

CABLEGRAMS United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph—Cor"'nght

London, November 11. Mr Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in responding to the toast of the navy, at the Lord Mayor’s banquet, emphasised the fact that no harm would result from plain speaking. The Germans, ha said, had robust minds and a high.sense of honour and fair play, and they liked affairs put plainly and squarely. The British relations with Germany had steadily improved during, the past year, side by side with every evidence of Britain’s determination to maintain her supremacy. The best way to make those relations thoroughly hearty and comfortable was to go right on, and terminate the rivalry by proving that we cannot be overtaken. (Cheers). Mr Churchill announced that he would propose an improvement in the | pay of the men in the navy before the end of the present Parliament. This would further stimulate the buoyancy of the recruiting. A sixth batll j squadron, he said, would possibly be brought into existence in 1913, fully manned, thus increasing the margin of security. The allotment of a strong British fleet to the Mediterranean demanded special vigilance in homo waters. There was no reason to anticipate trouble, but the Horae fleets were I quite equal to any task that might • be imposed upon them. ' The year, Mr Churchill said, had j been memorable for the Dominion’s I participation in the naval defence of j the Empire. In a few days the Canadian Government would announce a naval policy worthy of the power and loyalty to that great Dominion. The future, said Mr Churchill, required renewed exertions. None could foretell the difficulties and dangers of the future, although none could doubt our resolve and ability to come safely through them. The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, in responding to the toast of “The Ministry,” said: “We are living in anxious times. We are spectators of great moving events. “The Balkan armies are in effective possession of Macedonia and Thrace. Salonika, the gateway through which Christianity firatjentered Europe, is occupied by the Greeks, and we may at any moment hear of the fall of Constantinople. “It is a satisfaction to be able to assure you that Britain’s relations with other Powers, without a single exception was never more friendly or cordial. The Great Powers’ co-operation, the closeness of touch, the frankness and freedom of communication and discussion, Mr Asquith said, were remarkable and almost unintelligible 1 to those who believed that, because for certain purposes the Powers were ranged in different groups they must therefore in time of a European crisis be arrayed in opposite camps. Nothing could be further from facts. , The Powers, he said, were blamed in some quarters because they were not success J in averting war, but forces were at work beyond the control of any diplomatic manipulations. The Balkan States having matured their plans and perfected their equipment, and co-ordinated reciprocal action decided to force war as the only effectual remedy. They took the t matter into their own hands, and 1 things could never be again as i hoy were. (Cheers). As business statesmen everywhere said Mr Asquith, we must accept the accomplished fact. Even the campaign of Austentz did not produce changes so sudden and startlingly overwhelmipg and complete as have been wrought by the Balkan Confederacy. It may be that Eastern Europe may have to be recast. It , may be the ideas, preconceptions, and policies born in a by-gone era may have to be modified or reconstructed, 1 or even go altogether by the board. (Cheers). Upon one point he believed tho general opinion of Europe would be unanimous. The victors are not to be robbed of the fruits of what had cost them so dear. (Loud cheers).