THE DEBATE ON THE NAVY VOTE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 12 March 1908, Page 5

THE DEBATE ON THE NAVY VOTE.

Received March 11, 8.58 p.m

LONDON, March 11

In the' House of Commons, in the d- • - bato on the vote for naval pay, Mi. "Balfour, reiterating his comparisons of tho' navies, asked for a cloarer answer than was possible the previous, nig'it.

Mr. Asquith said the country miI .*' 'maintain an unassailable supremacy. "Tho ' two-Power standard was good practicable, and workable. On ih<*t thero was no" difference of opinion. Headded that Mr. Balfour's question was confined to vessels of the Dreadnon^ it class. The assumption that Germany by November, 1911, would possess 13 vessels of that class was ba&cd on t'nhypothesTs that one would be built ii 30 months aTler it was laid down, and the wholo programme on paper executed to the letter. There was gravo ioa boh for doubt, but for the moment he assumed that the hypothesis was cnrect.

Mr. Asquith added that Britain Iry January, 1911, would possess twelve and later would be one short if Germany completed their programme in tune. That assumes that nothing 's to be 'done here in the way of new constv.ction in 1909, or that vessels will be hu.i down at such a date that they will n< t be completed by 1911; but without forecasting the programme? for 1909 ho could say without tho faintest hei't.ition tb,at if we find there is a reason able probability of the German p'ogramrae being realised as the paper figures suggesi, we will feel it our duly tv provide, and shall provide, a sufficient number of ships at such date* of laying down that by November, LJll, Iho superiority of Germany which "\_'r. Balfour foreshadows will not be a"> actual fact. (Loud Opposition cho».'-3 > Mr.' Asquibh added : " That is the pol'.c-y of tho Government. It remains' on record,, and ought to reassure the House that we;do not intend to be left v.; ,'hi rid.'"" (Cheers.)

•'" The-Timfs'"'declares-that Mr. '-sqtiith's* explicit-• declaration v, il] he iec.ived ■''throughout. ..the country with profon/ia satifiach'pn and no little seis? of relief.