New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-06
Dominion Contributes $685..
100000 for 3 BattIeships.
and Will Have a Voice
in Foreign Affairs.
BORDEN EXPLAINS SCHEME
Dwells on Burden Imposed on
Mother Country by Aggres-
sive Naval Policy Of
Germany, Advising
Cooperation.

Ottawa, Dec. 5.-Canada proposes 70
add three of the most powerful battle
ships af1oat. at cost Of S35,000,0 to
the naval defence OF the British EN-
pire.
These vessels are TO be built in Great
Britain, and will form part OF the Brit
ish fleet. but they can be recalled to
form part Of a Canadian navy should
such a step be necessary.
This policy was announced late to-
day in the House OF Commons by Pre-
mer Robert l.. Borden In a long and
carefully prepared address. in which
he reviewed the status OF naval affairs
in the world and told OF the burden
which had been thrown on the mother
country by the aggressive naval policy
Of Germany in particular.
Great public interest has been dis
played in the question. and the knowl-
edge that the announcement OF Can
ada's policy was TO be made to-day
caused the floor and galleries TO be
crowded with members and spectators
The Duke OF Connaught. Governor Gen
eral OF the Dominion. was present.
Premier Borden. in opening his
speech dwelt upon the growth OF can
adm and other ovcrsea dominions oi
Great Britain and with it the increas-
ing need Of protection. There had now
come up. he said. the problem Of com
hiuirg cooperation with autonomy
and IL seemed essential that there
should be such cooperation in defence
and trade az will give to the whole
empire an effective organization IN
these matters OF vital concern. Here
tho Premier announced that with the
new order Of things Canada would havs
a voice in foreign affairs, adding:
when Great Britain nc longer as.
sumes solo responsibility for defence
upon the high seas, she can no longer
undertake TO assume sole responsibility
for the sole control Of foreign policy
lie quoted long memorandum pre-
pared for the Canadian government by
the British Admiralty. II reviewed the
recent growth Of the naval forces, espe-
cially those OF Germany. II stated that
in the spring Of 1915 Great Britain
would have In home waters twenty-fi five
Dresdnoughts. two Lord Nelson's and
Drcadnoughts and six battle cruisers
To-day Great Britain has eighteen
Dreadnoughts. against nineteen pos
sessed BY the other nations Of Europe
In 1919 the comparative strength viii
be twenty four to twenty-one; in 1914,
thirty one 10 thirty-four, and in 1915.
thirty-hve to ffty-one.
Promotes Canadian Security.
Larger margins Of superiority at
home" the memorandum states
would restore a greater freedom TO the
movements OF British squadrons In
every sea and directly promote the &C.
curity OF the oominions. Anything
which increased our margin in the new
est ships diminishes the strain and aug
ments our security and our chance OF
I.t ,.ft rpu,oIeated -
Premier Borden pointed to the dis
astrous effect on Canada and the en-
pire which would result from the defeat
of the British navy.
Twelve years ago the British navy
and flag were predominant on every
ocean OF the world" he said. To-day
they are predominant nowhere except
In the North Sea-" The duty OF pre-
serving safety at home had led to call
ing back ships from distant stations,
he declared, and this in spite Of greatly
increased expenditures for national de-
fence.
Premier Borden declared that none
of the Dreadnoughts would be built In
Canada, because the country was not
prepared TO build such ships. but he
announced that the Admiralty was pre-.
pared to give orders in the early fut-
IRE for the construction in Canada OF
small cruisers and auxiliary craft. In
connection with the development OF
shipbuilding, he said, he would not be
surprised to see the establishment OF
a higher class of engineering work.
which would produce articles now i'm
ported into Canada.
Mr.. Borden announced that he had
been assured by his majesty's govern
ment that it would welcome the pres
ence i'm London of a Canadian minister.
and that such minister would be regu-
larlv summoned to all meetings OF the
Committee of Imperial Defence. and
would be regarded as one of its per-
manent members. No important step
i'm foreign policy. he said. would be
undertaken without consultation with
Canada's representative.
The Premier declared that upon the
Information which he had disclosed tO
the House the situation was. In his
opinion, sufficiently grave to demand
immediate action. The debate on the
proposals, on motion, was set to begin
next Tuesday
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