El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-24
ENGLISH TIRE.
Of BIC NAVAL
EXPENSES
Suicide Party" Makes a
Fight on Government Pol
icy For a Big Navy.
THREATENS SPLIT
OF THE LIBERALS

ONDON, Eng, Jan 24.-WhetheF
Lloyd George. the chancellor OF
the exchequer. viii persist in sup
port Of that section Of the Liberal
party which is making a stand against
the increasing cost Of the navy, and
which is called the Suicide Party by
the Un1On1st press is paramount
question in political circles. Should he
do so he must set himself up against
Winston Churchill, first lord OF the
admiralty, who has declared that the
increase in the naval estimates which
he would submit during the coming
session of parliament is the actual
minimum for the safety OF British
supremacy at sea, and also against Mr..
ASQuith, the prime minister, who has
agreed that the Increase is absolutely
necessary in view OF the steps being
taken by the continental powers.
Armament Struggle Is On
There is no doubt that there IS
struggle on not only within the Lib
eral party, but also in the cabinet IT.
self, over this question Of ornaments
Heretofore. the big and the little navy
men in the cabinet have been able to
smooth out their differences but in
face Of a still bigger bill for the navy.
and the pressure from the Liberal
party for 2 reduction. those who be-
ieve that England is safe with her
present navy and can afford to put the
brake on, win be more inclined to OBJ
pose the demands OF the admiralty.
If Lloyd George should press his de-
mand for halt before the cabinet
there is the possibility Of a disruption
Of the government Mr.. Churchill. who
has been completely converted to the
bigger program for the navy, and
big vote for aerial development, will
certainly stand out for what he viii
term the minimum for safety. 1t viii
then be a tussle between him and Mr..
George Both are extremists when it
comes to a fight, and it win take all
the eloqUence OF the moderate men OF
the cabinet to prevent serious discord
Says Time to Call a Halt.
Lloyd George has given a few rea-
sons for his belief that England can
now call halt in her naval expenoi-
lures His first is that relations be-
finitely better than for years and both
have learned that they have nothing
to gain by quarreling.
Another reason is that the cont
mental powers are now. concentrating
on their armies and that Germany can
not stand the strain of both a supreme
navy and supreme army and there
fore she IS no longer a competitor
against England for command Of the
sea. His third reason is the spread OF
the revolt against military Oppres-
sion throughout the whole Of Christen-
dom"
Calls It Organized Insanity.
According to the Daily Chronicle, the
paper which might almost be consid-
cred Georges organ, Mr.. George says
the common sense Of the industrial
classes, be they capitalist or labor, has
risen against this organized insanity
(of naval eXpenditure) and this IS a
prOpitious moment for recOnsidering
the question of ornaments Unless
Liberalism seizes the opportunity It
win be false to its noblest traditions.
and those who have the conscience OF
Liberalism in their charge viii be
written down for all time as having
grossly betrayed their trust"
These words coming after the prime
minister and the first lord OF the ad-
mlralty had practically declared that
an increased vote for the navy is nee
essary BODIES i'll for continued cohesion
OF the Liberal party. On the same day
tnaI this Lloyd George interview was
puDlshed sir John Drummer, president
OF the National Liberal federation is
sued letter on the same subject,
Whlchi Is practically an attack on tho
prime minister, who had declared to a
depuJatiOn Of the federation that it
was necessary to keep up the expendi-
ture on ornaments. Sir John used
much the same arguments as LLOYD
George and urged every Liberal asso-
Clatlon TO strengthen the hands OF
NOSE VINO would like to see an arrest
IN the expenditure for the navy. It is
cIear therefore that the Radical Econ
onlsts. as they have been dubbed, are
10 night hard against increased. estf-
mates next session