The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-14
NAVY INCREASE May STOP
IF GERMANY HALTS ENGLAND
WILL LO 50 roo.
Hut she'll Always Have ships Enough To
Ruie the Seas Minister'S Plain Talk
10 Radicals Paradexes NJ Peace
Taft's Great Rld for Arbitration.

OS JOun STCniDalU Murray MHCuOuAlu,
Liberal member for Falkirk Burghs. in
Producing a motion to the effect that the
House viewed with alarm the increase in
the expenditure on the army and navy
and expressing the opinion that it ought
to be diminished.
Mr. Macdonald. in speaking to the
motion, dealt at first with naval arma-
ments. He argued that thers was no
necessity for Great Britains two Power
The foreign relations Of Great
Britain had improved. The people Of
this country and the domestic interests
Of the nation ought to be allowed to gain
something from this change.
Joseph King. Liberal member for North
Somerset. moved an amendment 10 the
effect that the House would welcome the
establishment Of International arma-
ments. He expressed the hope that Sir
Edward Grey. the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs. would make peace mission
to Berlin.
Reginald McKenna. First Lord OF the
Admiralty. said in his reply that IL there
was no further amendment of the German
navy law the British estimates for
19i2-is would show reduction on the
estimates for i9Il-i2. but he could give
no pledge TO that effect
Mr.. Mckenna said further that there
would be no reduction until the Govern
ment was positively informed as to what
would be the development Of foreign
navies. He rebutted the arguments OF
the Radicals and Laborites who had
supported the motion and declared it to
be a necessity that the navy should be
secure under oil contingencies and that
Great Britain should have the freedom
Of the ocean highways.
The country. he was sure. was not secure
unless the navy was supreme in its superb
ority against any foreign navy or against
any reasonably conceivable combination
which the nation might have to meet
without assistance from outside. The
reason why the Government had not re-
duced the naval armaments was that
Germany had increased her naval esti-
mates by tremendous sum in 1912 over
those for 1911.
Mr.. McKenna entered into an extended
comparison of the building programmes
of Germany and England but his argu-
ments did not seem to appeal TO the sup
porters Of the motion. They and other
members continued the debate. in which
Lord Charles Beresford. Mr.. Balour and
other members Of the Opposition joined
They demanded to know what the dis
agreements between the factions Of the
Government had to do with the defence
OF the empire. II any blame attached
to the Government they said. it was for
the fact that they were not planning to
build sufficient ships.
Sir Edward Grey acting as the Govern
ment leader in the absence Of Premier
Asquith. indorsed the position taken
by Mr.. Mckenna and added that il was
not TO be inferred from the increase in the
present estimates that Great Britain's 8
foreign relations had become strained
He could say that the highwater mark Of
naval expansion had been reached. pro-
vided the building programmes Of other
Powers 40 far as known to the Govern
ment were followed out.
The Government. he said. was doing
its utmost to promote good will on every
hand. He referred to the cordial relation
which existed with France. Russia. Aus
tria and Itely and to the German Chan
cellor's declaration in December in favor
of frank and sincere exchange Of views
with Great Britain for the purpose Of
avoiding il possible a rivalry of arma-
ments. He said that the Government
heartily reciprocated the feeling
THE people would be astonished," he
went on. III they could know how easy
it has been at any time within the last
three years to discuss differences with
Germany in a frank spirit. The Powers
OF Europe are spoken Of as forming sepa :
rate groups. Yes. that is true. but gradu-
ally within the last five years at least
things which might have brought those
groups into opposition have been disap-
pearing,"
He added that it was a paradox that
ornaments were increasing while the
nations were, AZ he believed. seeking good
relations, but it was greater paradox
that the growth of the enormous burdens
OF armaments coincided with the growth
of civilization. Az a whole II was the most
civilized nations which were piling up
their expenditures fastest, and not against
the unciviized. but in mutual rivalry
He continued: Unless the incongruity
and mischief Of all this be brought home
not only to the heads Of mon generally
but to their feelings as well. SO that they
resent tho inconsistency and realize the
danger OF this tremendous expenditure
the rivalry will continue and it must in
the long run break down civilization.
You are having this great burden piled
up in times Of peace and il il goes on
increasing by leaps and bounds as it
has done in the last generation it will
become intolerable. There are those
who think that it will lead to war pre-
cisely because II is already becoming
intolerable think it much more likely
thah the burden will be dissipated by an
internal revolution. by a revolt Of the
masses OF men against Ia xation.'
He believed. however that the rivalry
YVES not To be stopped merely by one
nation dropping out Of the race, On the
contrary such step might give an i'm.
petus to the expenditures Of some other
nations He did not believe that Great
Britain was feeling most the burden of
armuments. because in this country
taxation was so arranged that it was moi