The News of the Week

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 13, 31 March 1909, Page 5

The News of the Week

NAVAL CRISIS. HOW NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER WAS RECEIVED. KING EDWARD’S MESSAGE. The Prime Minister has received the following cablegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, through his Excellency the Governor:— “ I am commanded hy His Majesty the King to inform you that His Majesty is deeply gratified by the patriotic feeling displayed by New Zealand towards the Mother Country in the splendid offer, and to convey at once his gratiude and high appreciation for the fine patriotism and generosity shown in the magnificent offer made so promptly and spontaneously.” BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, has received the following cablegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, through His Excellency the Governor “In further reply to your telegram of the 22nd March, I desire you to express to Sir Joseph Ward and to your Government, in the warmest terms, the feeling of appreciation and gratitude with which His Majesty's Government have received the offer so generously and patriotically made. “In view of the uncertainty that exists as to the character and extent of the demand which may be made on the national resources in the following year the offer of the Government of New Zealand to bear In that period the cost of providing one first-class battleship of the latest type, and of a second of the same type, should subsequent events show it to be necessary, is most gratefully acaccepted by His Majesty's Government. “ Your Government will doubtless understand that it is impossible to enter into details by telegram, but you will receive at an early date full communication by dispatch. “ His Majesty's Government desires to consult with the Government of New Zealand as to the time it may become appropriate to give effect to their public-spirited proposal. “ So far as the coming financial year is concerned, the provisions and powers for which sanction is being asked in the Naval Estimates now before Parliament afford ample security.” THE EMPIRE UNANIMOUS. The Unionist newspapers applaud the patriotic spirit prompting Australasian offers. They argue that the general feeling is: “We ought not to need them, and if we have failed in our duty this is not an occasion on which we ought to ask the colonies to come to help us out,” The Conservative organs indignantly deny anything in the nature of a panic, but say that there simply exists a steady determination not to be outstripped in vital competitions. The “Morning Post” declares that Australasia's splendid example will have a far-reaching effect in quickening the spirit and hardening the Motherland's resolution to unflinchingly face the task before her. The “Times,” remarking that the censure motion was virtually anticipated in yesterday’s debate on the naval vote, warns Mr Asquith that the “ unscrupulous agitator” referred to in his speech was clever enough to rouse the city into indignation on rhe one hand, and on the other to cause New Zealand to offer one or even two Dreadnoughts, and further to evoke striking demonstrations of the daily-recorded sense of partnership in Imperial responsibilities in all the self-governing dominions. It adds: “The country and the Empire, by extraordinary unanimity, judged his measures inadequate.” CANADA AROUSED. Prominent Canadians have been stirred by Australasia’s lead into raising the question of offering a Dreadnought to Britain. In the House of Commons, Mr Reginald McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty) said that the Government did not intend to make an offer for the three Brazilian Dreadnoughts, now building in England. AUSTRALIA’S ATTITUDE. The Australian newspapers are overflowing with letters for and against the presentation of a Dreadnought. The bulk of the writers are fervently enthusiastic and laudatory of New Zealand’s example. The suggestions range from the gift of one battleship to a squadron. The annual conference of the Australian Natives’ Association resolved that the Parliaments and people should unite in offering a Dreadnought to Britain., while at the same time emphasising the necessity of proceeding with the Australian defence policy. The Association decided to contribute £250 from its funds if a presentation list be opened.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. The House of Commons discussed in committee the vote for officers and men of the navy. An Artificial Agitation. After Mr. George Wyndham (Chief Secretary for Ireland in the Balfour Ministry) and Sir Charles Dilke had spoken, the latter deprecating the unworthy panic, and insisting upon our preponderance of pre-Dreadnought ships, Mr. Asquith raised an Opposition protest by describing the demand for a stronger navy as an extraordinary agitation of a very artificial kind, and raised cheers by declaring that between ourselves and Germany there was no friction, and no unfriendliness, but a mutual sense of what was due to the independence of the two nations, and a common feeling that they must in great matters of national defence primarily consider their own interests. The Prime Minister asked for suspension of judgment upon Britain’s informal communications to the German Government until Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) made, as ho would do shortly, a full statement. Though the communications did not result in all cases in bringing about all that Britain would have desired, the Government had nothing to complain of. Britain Prepared. Continuing, Mr. Asquith protested against the absurd and mischievous legends regarding Britain’s naval unpreparedness. More unpatriotic and unscrupulous misrepresentation of the actual situation had never come to his knowledge. He cited figures showing what Britain’s strength would be in 1912, compared with Germany's, and appealed to the nation to believe’ that whatever party was in power the first care of every statesman worthy of the name would be to maintain intact, unassailable, and unchallengeable, the navy superiority upon which independence and freedom depended. (Loud Ministerialist cheers.) Mr Balfour's Reply. Mr. Balfour, in the course of a vigorous reply, said that no one would deny that the country was safe now. What the Opposition affirmed was that danger would begin in 1910. and increase in 1911. The speeches of Mr. Asquith and Mr. McKenna last week showed that it was impossible to view with indifference the foreign Dreadnoughts, and while the pre-Dreadnought ships were useful, the country would not consider the position safe if foreign Bowers had ships of a better type and almost equal or superior in numbers. “Because,” he added, “the Government will not budge a hair’s breadth from a policy involving great national peril, I shall take the course I have announced.” Acceptance Deferred. Lord Balcarres, -Junior Lord of the Treasury in the Balfour Government, in a speech at Beckenham, said that New Zealand’s offer of a Dreadnought, and a second if necessary, was equivalent to £4 per inhabitant, yet its acceptance was likely to be deferred for twelve months. The “Times” says that the Opposition consider the postponement of the acceptance of New Zealand's offer will chill the enthusiasm and loyalty of the oversea dominions. An enthusiastic meeting at the" Playhouse, Charing Cross, under the auspices ot the Navy League, demanded that eight Dreadnoughts be begun immediately and completed at the earliest possible date. Mr. C. W. Bellairs, M.P.. a retired naval officer, was a mover of a resolution which regretted that New Zealand’s offer, as an immediate offer, had not lieen accepted, and that the Government was utilising it to mitigate Britain's expenditure in 1910. Mr. Keir Hardie, M.F., in a speech at South Norwood, declared that the Labour party considers the Colonial offers to assist the navy aq insult to the greatness and majesty of the Mother Country. There was no foundation for the miserable scare. No Need for Alarm. Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet. the new Governor of South Australia, arrived from England by the R.M.S. Omrah on Thursday. In the course of an interview, he said:— “At the present moment there is no great fear of a German complication. I

have not seen the papers dealing with th» naval crisis, but. speaking in a g-neral way, Britain will keep building Dreadnoughts as fast as Germany. “Both Mr Asquith and Mr McKenna have distinctly and repeatedly stated that they will not allow the navy to fall behind the standard necessary for the protection of the Empire. “It is impossible to believe that there is muchr foundation for the alarmist reports that the naval standard will not be adequately maintained. There is no need for panic such as that described by the cables. I view the matter with no alarm. “Of course, Germany is getting richer, and wants to extend her empire, but we may rely on the repeated statements of Mr Asquith that Britain will keep ahead of German enterprise in shipping.” Britain’s Gratitude. The “’limes” declares that it is sincere, ly glad of the acceptance of New Zealand’s patriotic offer in the same spirit that prompted it. The message accepting it will, the “ Times says, be read in New Zealand as expressing the appreciation and gratitude felt In every English street and lane, addingi “There seems to be no reason why the battleship should not be laid down as soon as arrangements can be made.” A movement is afoot to send Sir Joseph Ward a memorial signed by members of all parties, conveying Parliament's thanks for the Dreadnoughts offer. Britain's Facilities. Vickers, Son, and Maxim state that their yards are able to complete three Dreadnoughts in three years, and thereafter one could be completed every halfyear. They would also Is- able to equip the artillery for seven Dreadnoughts in three years. “No country's output,” they add, “ie comparable with England's.” Mr. McKenna, replying in the Hons* of Commons to Mr. J. Dundas White (Liberal member for Dumbartonshire), stated that the Clyde yards were capable of building six Dreadnoughts. * AUSTRALIAN DEMONSTRA TIONS. The Lord Mayor of . Sydney presided on Thursday night at one of the largest and most enthusiastic demonstrations ever held in Sydney, with the object of initiating a Dreadnought fund. The Town Hall was densely packed, and the proceedings were constantly punctuated by the singing of patriotic songs. The following resolutions were adopted: “That, in the opinion of this meeting of citizens, glorying in the traditions of the British race, the time has arrived for the Commonwealth to take an active share in the naval defence of the Empire.” “That, in view of the expressed determination of British rivals to challenge her naval supremacy, Australia should present a Dreadnought to the British Navy as an immediate expression of her invincible resolve to stand by the Mother Country and take her place in the Empire’s fighting line.” Melbourne’s Meeting. The Dreadnought meeting in the Town Hall was marked by unbounded enthusiasm. Hundreds were unable to gain admission, and held meetings of their own. The Lord Mayor presided. Mr Murray, Sir Thomas Bent, and a number of State members and others delivered rousing speeches. Resolutions that the command of the sea was absolutely essential to the integrity of the Empire and the safety of the oversea dominions, and in favour of presenting a Dreadnought, were carried. At Sydney. The I.ord Mayor's appeal for a Dreadnought fund says the fact stands out that the Empire is already weighted down with the cost of defence and maintenance. Britain must face a largely increased expenditure to maintain her present impregnable position, and her sons must assist. New Zealand has nobly led the way. Mr Wade, State Premier, has wired tc the other State Premiers that he considers the Dreadnought scheme inappropriate, and suggesting instead that the States combine to increase the naval subsidy to half a million. The Lord Mayor is issuing an appeal

to the people of the State for a quarter of a million towards n Dreadnought. He says that he expects that this amount will b*- hacked by handsome support from the State Government and will relieve the State from the stigma of selfishness or indifference. A strong ami influential committee has been appointed to act with the Lord Mayor. At Perth. Tiie Mayor presided over a packed meeting in the Town Hall last night. Sir John Forrest moved a resolution asking the Federal Government to inform the Home authorities that the people of Australia were prepared to make every necessary sacrifice to maintain the Empire’s supremacy at sea. The moving of an amendment on behalf of the Australian Natives’ Association that the necessary sacrifice should take the shape of increased expenditure on local defence, led to great disorder. The Mayor, amid a wild scene of commotion, declared Sir John Forrest’s resolution carried. The movers of the amendment afterwards held an open air meeting, which adopted a resolution protesting against the Mayor’s ruling, and claiming that the amendment had been carried by three to one. Tronble in Brisbane. A heated correspondence has passed between the Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor over the hitters refusal to call a Dreadnought meeting. The Mayor declared that when the citizens as a body signified their wishes he would act without coercion. Messages of Thanks. The Prime Minister has received a cable message from Mr Henniker Heaton, M.P.. offering his congratulations, and stating that he hail been asked to advise Sir Joseph Ward that members of His Majesty's Government have authorised him io say that New Zealand’s patriotic offer has had a very great moral effect in the United Kingdom, and especially in foreign countries, being specially valuable at the present time. The newspaper posters in the principal cities of the United Kingdom, Mr Henniker Heaton, adds, were headed: “New Zealand's generous and patriotic offer.” The secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League has received the following cablegram, dated 25th Inst.: —• "Navy League thanks, our. countrymen in New Zealand for their splendid gift.”