BRITAIN'S SEA POWER

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 5

BRITAIN'S SEA POWER

MR- CMKIIILI/S POLICY,

GROWING IMPORTANCE OF DOMINIONS. RECEPTI9N OF THE SPEECHBy Telesrapli-Press Association-Copyright London, July 23. ' Mr. Winston Ohurchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in concluding his speech in the House of Commons yesterday onthe Supplementary Xfival Estimates, announced amid cheers that New Zealand's usual patriotism had aided the Admiralty in strengthening the Mediterranean Fleet. A torpedo station, he added, would be established at Alexandria. Mr. Churchill also paid a tribute to Mr. Borden (Prime Minister of Canada), and announced that Canada's intentions would not be published until the delegates had returned and consulted their colleagues. • In conclusion, Jlr. Churchill said:— "The unity of Empire carries safety to its component parts, and probably carries tho peace of the world. The progress of the Australian fleet unit is continuous, and facilitates tho new fleet organisation by releasing men for service nearer Home." "Ever-Darkoning Cloud." Mr. Balfour, formerly Leader of the Opposition, said that Jlr. Churchill's survey touched not merely the issues of peace and war, but revealed that an everdarkening cloud was thr&itened from the European side. "This is balanced," said Jlr. Balfour, "by the fact that Canada is realising, as New Zealand and other Dominions have realised, tho changing situation of Empire and the responsibilities which that situation inevitably throws upon every component element of the Empire. If we cannot loot forward to a relief from the burden of armaments, we can feel that tho resources of tlie Empire are increasingly availa.blo, and' that we have behind us its whole strength." (Cheers.) Sir. Balfour, in conclusion, said he believed that organisation by Powers on a defensive basis mado war impossible. Tho fleets of Britain and France were not inadequate to meet any strain put upon them. A Guarantee of Pcace. The Primo Minister, Jlr. Asquitli, said he agreed tlint the grouping of tho Powers was a guarantee of peace. "Wo are most reluctant to be a competitor in naval rivalry," ho said, "but the expenditure is justified in order to secure our shores, our Dominions, our commerce and peace." 1 Jlr. Ramsay Jfacdonald, chairman of the Labour party, said he viewod the statements made in tho House of Commons with much suspicion. . "We are building for peace," lie said, "but the tone of diplomacy is not always peaceful; our whole attitude had been temper, and Germany's mind had been altered by the provocative speeches made inside and outside of the House." He did not wish to detract from the spirit in, which the co-operation of tho Dominions had been referred to, but he realised, that a great political revolution in the government of the Erapiro was contemplated, whereby England would no longer have tho solo decisive voice in the Imperial'policy. He would take his stand with the men in Germany who opposed any increase in tho navy. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford said the immediate danger would come within the next two or three years. Russia's fleet would not be ready for a considerable time, and ho did not believe that the French Navy would bo a great support, therefore Great Britain would i have to bear the brunt.