THE BRITISH NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2064, 31 March 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

A DISSENTIENT VOICE.

THE PEACE SOCIETY’S COMPLAINT.

United Press Association— Copyright

SYDNEY, March 30

A meeting of the Peace Society adopted a resolution deploring the public excitement in regard to the British and German navies, regretting the misplaced generosity of certain citizens, and supporting Mr. Fisher’s action in refusing to involve the people of the Commonwealth in the presenting of a Dreadnought to Britain. “ THE CENSURE DEBATE. THE MOVER’S - MODERATE SPEECH. (Received March 30, 10.30 pun.) LONDON, March 30. Major A. 11. Lee, Conservative member for the Fareham Division of Hampshire", moved a vote of censure in moderate terms. He denied that there was a public panic, and said that it was only natural that there should be acute anxiety as the result of Mr. Asquith’s speech in March 16th. It was, he said, absurd to talk of Germany’s treachery. Safety lay in refusing te' be influenced by a promise,not to accelerate building. A diplomatic declaration miguo become obsolete in a week, whereas it would take two years to construct a battleship. SENSATIONAL MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. GERMANY WILL HAVE THIRTYTHREE DREADNOUGHTS. (Received March 30, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, replied. lie commended the absence of party feeling in Major Lee’s speech, but said that the Opposition ought to have deferred their censure motion until July, when the shipbuilding vote will be considered and more information upon which to form a .right judgment would be available. The House and country were perfectly right to view the new situation created by the German programme as grave. When that programme was complete Germany would have 33 Dreadnoughts, the most powerful fleet in the world. That imposed upon Britain the necessity of rebuilding her whole fleet. This statement caused a sensation in- a crowded House.

(Received March 81, 12.10 a.m.) Sir Edward Grey continued: The element of uncertainty was when this must he done. The first necessity, therefore, was te take stock *of the plant of the country. That the Admiralty had done. The British capacity for building hulls and propelling machinery and manufacture of the largest guns was considerably in excess of the German. A doubtful point was the comparative capacity to provide gun mountings. The Admiralty had now arranged with manufacturers to provide suoh ail increase that, in a fewmonths,' there would be a similar advance in this branch. Dealing with diplomatic'relations, Sir Edward Grey insisted on the good results of King Edward V visit to Berlin. Two tilings, he said, -might produce a conflict —first, a British attempt to isolate Germany; second, the isolation of Britain in an attempt of any Continental Power to dominate and dictate the policy of the Continent. There was no reason to apprehend either contingency. European Powers were spending hall their revenue on preparations to kill each other. The extent of this expenditure had become a satire and a reflection upon civilisation, but Britain must >jQ prepared to defend her national existence' under the conditions imposed on onr generation. He was glad the colonies, such as 1 New Zealand, recognised that their national existence was one with Britain’s in this matter.

(Received March 31, 1.15 a.m.) Sir Edward Grey continued: “The only possible basis of. agreement for limitation of armaments 'is the acknowledgement of the British naval superiority. In January I made our information regardng the acceleration of our building known-to Germany, adding that she must not be surprised if the British estimates were increased. Germany gave a verbal but quite definite declaration that she would have thirteen Dreadnoughts at the end of 1912. This disposes of the extreme apprehension regarding 1910 and -1911. The four British hpyothctical Dreadnoughts arc not ‘intended as the limitation of the next programme. The national security shall have the benefit of any doubt.” , ’ V Mr. Asquith added little to Sir Edward Grey’s speech. He concluded with a strong appeal to his supporters for a vote of confidence. Mr. Balfour wound up the debate, saying that the Government was relying mi too small ,a margin of naval strength at a. time when a greater strain was nlaced on the defensive resources than at any other time dui ing the last hundred years. ' • THE MOTION hEJECTED. A TRIUMPH OF PARTY. (Received March 31, 1.25 a.m.) LONDON, March 30. The motion was rejected by 353 votes to 134. Lieutenant Bellairs and Captain Kincaid-Smith voted in favor of the motion. The Laborites voted ageinfct, it, -and the Irish Nationalists abided votias- - v *

[Lieut. Be-llairs is Liberal member for Greenwich. Captain Kincaid Smith is Liberal member for South-West Warwickshire.]

UNUSUAL ACTION OF A NEW ZEALAND M.P.

TELEGRAPHS TO THE BRITISH PREMIER.

[Per Press Association.]

: CHRISTCHURCH, March 30. Yesterday Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P.y sent the following cable message to the Prime Minister of Great Britain: “The Cabinet’s offer of a Dreadnought, was made without consultation with Parliament and people.- There’is an increasing feeling that the offer was an unconstitutional and unfortunate interference with British party politics. I believe Parliament would gladly "increase the naval subsidy.—T. E. Taylor, member, Christchurch.” ■ -