IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2565, 28 July 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE FOUR CONTINGENT DREADNOUGHTS,

TO BE LAID DOWN NEXT YEAR.

United Press Association—CorYitianT

(Received July 27, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. ' In the House of Commons, in committee of supply on the shipbuilding vote, Mr. McKenna, Eirst Lord of the Admiralty, announced tlint after very anxious and careful examination of the conditions of shipbuilding. in foreign countries, the Government had concluded that it was desirable to take all necessary steps to lay down the four contingent Dreadnoughts ,by April, 1910. They would be completed in March, 1912. The announcement was received with cheers.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

OPPONENTS OF AN EFFICIENT NAVY DEFEATED.

(Received July 27, 11.10 p.m.)

Air. McKenna continued that the Admiralty had now decided that one of the November programme ships, instead .of a battleship, should be an improved cruiser, in view of the need for cruisers able to outrun or capture the enemy’s. He added that it is possible to build cruisers faster and more powerful than those of the Invincible type.

Air. Dillon (Nationalist) asked whether the Germans had anticipated their programme or had kept to the understanding given to the Foreign Office. Air. McKenna said he did not think that further comparison of shipbuilding programmes was desirable, but he might say that Britain in 1906 expressed an earnest desire 'to restrict the rapid growth of the armaments of this and other countries. -No individual country could stand out by itself and restrict its armaments. Britain gave a lead in that direction, and had laid down eight large armored ships in the past three years, during which Germany had laid down eleven. It was impossible to continue on the same lines and, failing an international arrangement, •we were bound to take all necessary steps to secure predominance on the sea, not only now, but in the future. (Cheers.) He strongly urged the early laying down of the contingent Dreadnoughts. Mr.' J. E. Ellis (Liberal member for Rushcliffe Division of Nottingham) moved the reduction of the vote, and declared that the navy scare was dead, and that the country had better come to an. agreement with the other Pow-

llr. Asquith emphasised that while Air. Balfour and he had compared the shipbuilding programmes, they did so without any idea of suggesting any indication of impending conflict with Germany. On the contrary, he and Air. Balfour were most careful to Say that there was not any cause of quaiiel anywhere in the world between their and, if diplomacy were conduced as bo believed it would be, with mutual consideration, there was 110 reason why such difference should arise. Air. Asquith continued that the Government had strenuously endexvmred to jeacn an international accommodation, but oibei nations were in no mood for vt.. Tue Government had failed, 'but the door was still open. Meanwhile, they nur-t deal with facte. He challenged objectors to say how they would Settle the shipbuilding programme irrespective of what others were doing. It was the Government’s unanimous judgment to lay down the four contingent Dreadnoughts in April and, meanwhile, to order gun mountings and other accessories. Ho explained that these four ships were without prejudice to the 1910 programme, and unconnected with the offers of Dreadnoughts by the colonies. Ho added: “Wo have, all recognised and acknowledged with the utmost gratitude, besides the generosity and loyalty prompting the offers, the disposition which the . colonies have shown to Accommodate the form their offers shall take' to the real requirements of the Imperial navy and the situation generally. We are confident that the Defence Conference will reach a result satisfactory all round.”

MR BALFOUR’S PATRIOTIC ACTION.

SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENT

Mr. Balfour criticised the tardiness of the Government in laying down the four extra Dreadnoughts, and denounced the Ministerial plan as utterly inadequate, but later, after Messrs J. Dillon, G- N. Barnes (Labor), Murray /Nationalist), and Ramsay Macdonald (Labor) had supported the reduction of the vote, Mr. Balfour announced that he would vote with the Government. He had, ho said, learned that the number of xhembers dissenting from the Government’s policy was very large, and- ho did not think; it right to allow the impression to get abroad bat the House of Commons was doubt- .... the decision to undertake "further shipbuilding. (Loud cheers). The motion for the reduction of the voto was rejected by 280 to 98.