Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-30
TO MAINTAIN NAVY
SUPREMACY AT SEA INSISTED
ON BY MINISTRY.
Foreign Secretary Foresees Bank
ruptcy Of Europe if Armament
Goes on, but He Can't Turn Back.

LONDON. March 30-Seldom has the
national interest been so intensely focused
on a debate in the House of Commons
as it was when the opposition vote of
censure on the government, with regard
to the naval policy. was moved yesterday
by Arthur Hamilton Lee, Conservative
member of the House from Hants.
The text of the opposition motion is as
follows:
THAT in the opinion of this House the
declared policy of his majestys govern
ment respecting the immediate provisions
of battleships of the newest type does not
sufficiently secure the safety of the en-
pire."
BY strict party vote of 353 to 135 the
House refused to express lack OF conf
dence In the governments naval policy.
Reginald Mckenna. first lord of the adj
miralty; Foreign Secretary Sir Edward
Grey, Alfred LyttletOn, A. j. Balfour and
bate.
Sir Edward Grey's Speech.
The foreign secretary did not attempt
to minimize the seriousness OF the situa-
ton created for Great Britain by the Ger
man naval program. which. he declared.
meant that when Germany had completed
this program she would have thirty
three Dreadnoughts, the most powerful
fleet tine world had ever seen, imposing
upon Great Britain the necessity of re-
building her feet entirely.
While decrying the dangers of the sit
uation. he made the significant statement:
IF [ were asked to name the one thing
which would most reassure us with re-
gard to the prospects of peace. II would
he that the naval expenditure of Germany
is being diminished and that ours is fol-
lowing suit
He spoke of the progressive improve
ments in Anglo-German rela atoms and said
that in his opinion the only thing that
could disturb these relations would be an
atA,mpt by either country to isolate the
other, thing which neither contemplat-
ed.
Various arrangements We're conceivable,
for instance. a general agreement between
the two nations to limit expenditures. or
a comparison of estimates each year in
advance. with view to their moditica-
ton. This exchange Of Information, he
said. would allay any suspicion that one
country was trying to steal a march on
the other.
THE Germans said the secretary.
view their program as one made for
their own needs and one which has no
reference to our program. Their idea is
that if we built fifty Dreadnoughts, or a
hundred, they would not build more than
the number already decided upon. and if
we cease to build altogether. they would
not build one less.
The Nations Naval Needs.
1--WE have no difficulty in accepting that
view without reproach. and just as little
difficulty in saying frankly that our
view of our own naval needs is that our
expenditure is and must be dependent
upon German expenditures. 1t is essen
tial that we keep our navy in superior
position
The secretary declared that the vastness
OF the expenditure on ornaments had be-
come a satire and a reflection on the
civilization of the world. If it went on,
he said. it must sooner or later in Europe
lead to national bankruptcy.
Great Britain could do no good to any
body if she alone gave up the competi-
ton. She must be prepared to defend
her national existence under the condi-
tons imposed upon her.
Premier Asquith's View.
Premier Asquith defended himself
against the charge of creating a national
scare by his speech a fortnight ago. He
would be recreant in his duty, he said. il
he failed to point out two grave factors
in the situation, the acceleration of the
German program and the increase In its
building capacity.
The premier argued for discretionary
powers for the government to build the