ENGLAND AND GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12564, 16 July 1910, Page 5

ENGLAND AND GERMANY

STRONG SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH

REPUDIATES SUGGESTION OF

HOSTILITY

LONDON, July 15

In the Commons Mr JJillon, in moving the reduction of the shipbuilding vote by two millions, contended that the postponement of a portion of this monstrous and unjustifiable . expenditure would in nowise endanger the country. Ho warned his bearers against the tyranny of experts.

Mr Asqnith replied that the Cabinet Mas influenced only by the interests of national safety. He deeply regretted the suggestion that they were animated by a hostile or sgressive feeling towards Germany. Nothing was further from the truth. Our relations have been and are ► most coi-dial, and he anticipated a constantly increasing warmth and fervour therein. He welcomed the various agencies and movements enabling the two peoples to more" and more understand each other. He did not believe the German. Government would subscribe to-the view-that our preparations were directed against them any rrore than to the vieAv that theirs were directed against us. Germany was a great wo. Id Power, with interests everywhere increasing. "Th German statesmen aiid people honestly and legitimately believed that an increase iit the Navy was necessary to defend those interests. It was riot for us to question whether the manner in ■which they carry out that belief is politic or wise; that is a matter for .them. On cue s?Je the Government and Parliament would "be false, to the nation and to the Empire unless they maintained an ample margin of security against all probable, even possible, risks. They must look at the world's shipbuilding. Among the new facts ho • mentioned in 190 D' for justifying the estimate was indisputable acceleration of Germany's programme, and her increasing building capability, especially as regards sp^ed in construction". He at the same' time carefully noted the declaration by the German Government of no Future accelerations. Mr Asqnith next compared the programes, giving Germany by April, 1912, a, total of 13 Dreadnoughts and we 20. He added in reply to a question that the former did not include the Australian Dreadnoughts.

Mr Asquith, continuing, said Britain, by the spring of 1913 would have 25 Dreadnoughts %tvs two Colonial Dread no lights? At,the other end of tho world. Germany would have 21, plus four italian and an unknown number of Austrian. Was the margin excessive? He recognised that every new Dreadnought delayed some social reform, but national security was the condition of all social reform. Recalling how ho had approached Germany with a view to a reduction of ship building, and how the German Navy law stands in the way, he emphasised that construction thereunder would ba diminished after 1912. He concluded by saying: "We shall eagerly avail ourselves <f every opportunity in the direction of restricting shipbuild-

ing."

Mr Balfour remarked that Mr Asquith had put the case at its best for us. The " little Navy party" had so impressed Mr Asquith that the latter endeavoured to show that everything was going on as well as possible. No Power had tver approached so nearly to Britain's strength as Germany. The margin was inadequate. The Opposition last year did the nation good service by arousing the country ty> a sense of tho peril wherein they stood, and had thus conduced to the peace of tho .world.

Lord Charles Berestr.rd and Messrs Barnes and Belloc spoke.

Mr McKenna, in winding up, declared the Admiralty's motto to be "Safe and

sober."

Mr Dillon's motion was rejected by 2 CJS to 70.