, 1909-03-31
Ms
ST. CROTX STATION.

TOJ NSAAO SSAC
safety Opposition cheers). Mr.. Lee said it
was impossible to naglect Germany's capaci-
ty for naval construction and it was indis.
pensable to maintain superiority over a sim
gle power able to overwhelm England and
challenge her naval supremacy. It was
necessary, he continued, to proceed with the
motion unless the Government would under
take the construction of eight D~readnoughts,
despite Mr.. Asquith's depreciation of the
agitation as artificial, and he was a good
Judge, since he manufactured it himself
(cheers). Sir EdwardGrey SAID he did not min
imize the situation created by the German
programme, and to meet Germany the feet
must be more powerful than any England had
ever possessed. England possesseda capacity
surpassingGermany with respect to hulls and
guns, Germany was superior regarding gun
carriages, but the Admiralty had ordered
an increase Of this last item. Diplomatic
relations, he continued, had steadily improv-
cd up to the Kings visit to Berlin. Two
things might produce q conflict, viz. a
British attempt to isolate Germany,
or an attempt by any power to Tom
mate continental policy. Between the
extremes of isolation and domination, there
was ample space for the motion with ami
ty. Naval affairs had been discussed ami
AGtOA 00O 4AA4OA AAGsAIg ~ pAS " ILL
of the British view. The British expendi-
ture was dependent upon Germany's, al
though Germany's was not dependent upon
England's. The only thing that will roassure
the world, is a decrease Of expenditure in
both countries; th3ir situation is differ
emf, and England's superiority is a matter
of comparative Indifference to Germany.
ALI German ships are ready for service six
months before being commissioned. there
fore they are available for emergencies,
If Germany altered the type England
would initiate it and he pledged the Gov
ernment would not err upon the side Of
economy. In conclusion he declared the vast
ness of the expenditure was q satire upon
civilization, which must lead to national
bankruptcy. Lord Robert Cecil said Ger
many's only motive was to fight England. Talk
about limitation of ornaments was pernlclOus,
and the only safe course was to disregard
German assurances unless IN q cOntraotual
form. Mr.. Roberts said the course taken
by the Opposition was partisan and unpatri-
Otio, and it was unnecessary to accelerate
the naval programme. Mr.. Asquith said
that by April 1912 England would have
sixteen Dreadnoughts against Germnny's
eleven sure. possibly seventeen; Eng
lands contingent four would make TWEEN
ty, besides double the number of Ger
many's other warships with a larger
preponderanoe of vessels ranking next to
tie Dreadnoughts. It was therefore ridicu-
lous to say that British predominance was
not maintained. Mr., Balfour defended the
Opposition against the charge of partisan
ship. The British position, he declared, was
becoming worse; adherence to public law
was diminishing throughout Europe, the
0OUornmoOta ware over S0DOulnA and eight
more Dreadnoughts were necessary. Upon
q division the motion was lost by 353
against 1876.
This is among the most momentous Of
debates for many years, and the interest
shown is more apparent by the result of
the Croydon by-election, Sir Robert I.