BURDEN OF ARMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 7

BURDEN OF ARMS.

NAVAL HOLIDAY PLAN. MR. CHURCHILL'S IDEA. FRESH OFFER TO GERMANY. ! TO END THE WASTE. i i By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (ltec. Octobcr 20, 0.35 a.m.) London, October 19. An important speech on naval policy has been mado by .Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of tlio Admiralty, at a week-end gathering in Manchester. Mr. Churchill opened with references to t'ho tragic week, and expressed sympathy with Germany in tho Zeppelin disaster. Iteforring to Homo llulo ho said ho had littlo or nothing to subtract from his Dundee spoech. Tho last two years 'had brought all parties nearer on the subject of Ireland, and tho door was always open for a fair and honourable solution. Mr. Churchill then proceeded to make an important declaration on naval policy. He was awaro that some trusted Liberals were disquieted about the expense of the Navy. Tho Naval Estimates gave full warning that next year's expenditure would bo substantially higlier, but the figures must not bo considered alone. The late Mr. Gladstone had spent a third of tho national revenuo on armaments, and the: present rate was only 5 per cent, higher. The burden on tho working classes was, however, proportionately less than forty years ago. The Naval Estimates had advanced by twolve millions during the last decade, but tho country's sea-borne trade had increased by 150 millions. In the same period the National Dobt had been reduced by .'IOO millions. Tho only method of reducing naval .expenditure was along tho lines of an international agreement'. The- Government had no'intention of n.oving in tho matter of a naval holiday unless Germany considered acting strictly, but a point lad been reached whero the relations of tho Great. Powers, however amicablo, seemed to pioduco no effect on their warlike preparations. Britain's relations with Germany had , greatly improved without tho loss of friendship with other countries. "The moment, continued Mr. Chtircliill, "is therefore' favourable for a friendly reference to tho naval holiday proposal I pnt forward in tho name of tho Government. It is quite simple. Next year, apart from the Canadian ships or their equivalent, apart from anything required by any dovolopment in the Mediterranean, Britain will lay down four great ships and Germany two. Now we say to Germany, 'If you will postpone beginning to build two ships next near, we will postpone,-in absolute good faith, tho building of four ships during tho same period. This will save Germany six millions, and_ Britain nearly twelve, while the relative strength of the two partios will bo unchanged. It is not possible for either Germany or ourselves to do this unless the other Great Powers agree, but I am convinced that they will follow' tho 'Anglo-German lead. All will be just as great as if they had built their ships as ;it present designed, and scores of millions will be rescued for the progress of mankind.' " Mr. Chufcliill added that if 1914 was too near the proposal could bo applied to 1915. Ho"was ; 'quite iinpervious to tho objeotions'of the £reat armament firms. They must bo the servants, not the masters. The cessation, of building great ships would not produco a.violont dislocation of industry. The time would come when the present competition would "bo a thing of the past, and great naval Powers would then look back to it with feelings of Tegret. Referring to tho land question, *he said, the first vital step'of reform would' he the establishment of ' a minimum standard rate of wages for agricultural