The Dreadnought and the Government.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 7, 1 May 1909, Page 223

The Dreadnought and the Government.

Nothing could be better than the Government's offer of a battleship or two to the British Government, unless it is the resolution with which the confederated representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of the Dominion approved the offer. Commerce is the interest mainly threatened by war with any Power at all strong by sea Left to itself, without the Empire's forces to rely upon, the commerce of this country Avould soon cease to belong to this country. Commerce, therefore, has no difficulty in declaring that the dependencies stand by the Empire. Therein commerce enjoys a common patriotism with the rest of the community. Hitherto we have paid hut a. bagatelle towards the immense cost of maintaining security in the face of the world. The time has come, however, for us to show that we are ready to take our proper share of the cost for the upkeep not of our trade alone but of that which is far greater than any trade, namely, the Empire. The Dreadnought which we have offered with the almost unanimous consent of the whole people of the Dominion is not yet built. She is, nevertheless, carrying round among the maritime nations a flag inscribed with the meaning attached to the Empire of Britain by the children of Britain in remote lands. The Prime Minister is in the high place from which he is expected by the

people of this country to send out such a flag at such a time without waiting for permissions, which are sure to be given, or troubling himself about costs, which are certain to be provided. Sir Joseph "Ward has done the thing expected of him in the spirit of the Constitution. The necessary technical irregularity will be brushed aside by Parliament as a matter of course. No one opposing need cherish extravagant hopes of a successful political career The Dominion has no time for the disloyal, and no respect for the lukewarm.