Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23
NEW YORK OR BUST! NAVAL POLICY ALARMS
Bryan Has Adopted This So English Government Plans to
gan in Earnest Increase National Debt.
WILL CARRY FIGHT THERE WANTS A PUBLIC OPINION
Also Has West Virginia Regarded Step Toward National
Maryland Insolvency.
WILL HAVE TO TALK SOME MADE NECESSARY BY GERMANY
Defense-Com
Happy. Arma Expenditures.
English Government Plans to
Increase National Debt.
WANTS A PUBLIC OPINION
Regarded as Step Toward National
insolvency.
MADE NECESSARY BY GERMANY
Kaiser's Indifference to Great Brit
aims Plans for Defense-Com-
pels Armament Expenditures.

LONDON. August 22-Light has been
thrown this week upon great political
mysteries. both in England and in the
Anglo-German relations.
1t cannot be denied that the growing
alarm in the diplomatic world. Gull
minating in Lord Cromer's war speech
in the house of lords. had gravely per-
turbed all Europe. The meeting of King
Edward and Emperor William did
something to allay the apprehension.
But the situation was such, and still Is
in fact. that the peaceful intentions of
the monarchs did not suffice to remove
the danger.
Popular antagonism in modern days
is a more potent element in interna-
tional relations than the policies of
monarchs. Moreover. the competition in
ornaments has reached a crisis beyond
which it cannot go without change in
policy.
Even the irresponsible government
which controls British affairs realized
at last that the situation must be faced.
Its policy heretofore had been one of
naval economy. 1t wanted all the money
that could possibly be squeezed from
the taxpayers for the Old-age pension
and other socialistic schemes. When
that did not suffice the government at
tempted to revise the balance sheet by
sweeping reductions in provisions for
national defense.
Germany Forces Policy.
Germany's great naval program under
these circumstances would, within three
or four years, have made her fair
match for Great Britain on the seas.
This was obvious to everybody. The
effect was soon seen in the exultant
talk Of the German people and national
alarm which began seriously to affect
prosperity in England.
The situation. in word. began to be
almost panicky. 1t is now disclosed
how 1T will be dealt with.
Semi-offlcfal accounts of the discus
sion between Sir Charles Harding, per-
manent under-Secretary of the British
foreign Office. and the kaiser state that
the former intimated it was Great
the German naval program in a scheme
to be announced next winter. The sub
Ject was frankly threshed out. The
emperor. in friendly spirit. declared
this policy would be regarded with en-
tire equanimity by himself and his gov
eminent
1t was also explained that the enormous
expense involved would probably be met
by large loan. In other words, the lib
eral government in time of peace will
debt to pay current expenses.
Public Opinion Awaited.
The government is not yet openly COM
mitted to this disastrous policy, but a
series of Balloons d'Essai, which appeared
in the liberal press this week. makes it
clear that it will be adopted unless pop
ular protests are overwhelming. It is OBJ
vious even to tyro in finance that no
more dangerous precedent could be es-
tablished. This way bankruptcy lies.
The radical press will be filled with
speciouS arguments to prove that the
sacred cause of national defense and not
experiments in socialism have forced the
government into this desperate course. 1t
remains to be seen how far the country
will be deceived in this regard.
1t is somewhat disheartening to find
such an advanced journal as the Spectator
cming to the defense of the government
in this project. 1t argues that the gov
eminent must resort to extraordinary
measures in the critical moment which
threatens the safety of the state.
1t sees in the annual agitation on the
subject of naval expenditure recurring
danger of war. The adoption Of a big
four years program would put an end
to this and also settle once for all the
question of British supremacy on the sea,
for Germany would never be able to
match it.
The financial world, however. will greet
the policy with the deepest adherence.
From only one point of view will it be
tolerated in financial circles, namely. that
when the country realizes that this long
step has been taken toward national in
solvency it will condemn and repudiate
the socialistic extraVagance which made
it necessary.