A HORNET'S NEST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1887, 23 October 1913, Page 7

A HORNET'S NEST.

WHAT MR. CHURCHILL'S SPEECH STIRRED UP. GERMAN PRESS FURIOUS; By Telecrasb—Press Association—Oosirtelit "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. Berlin, October 21. The press pours out a mixture of indignation, contempt, and pity on Mr. Churchill's scheme i'or a "naval holiday." Tho "Lokal-Anzeiger" attributes the proposal to a desire to anticipate a 'reduction in tho German Estimates, Sir. Churchill doubtless recognising rightly that tho creation of a single breach would make tho whole structure totter. Conservative organs assert that Britain is trying all means to wreck tho German Navy Law, not even hesitating to infringe tho sovereignty of a foreign State. (Rec. October 22, 10.5 p.m.) Borlln, October 22. It is senii-oflieially stated that no doubt Mr. Churchill ib sincere in his good intentions, and lias not spoken a word which could impair the aovelopment of Anglo-Gorman friendliness, but the path on which ho seeks soma amelioration of the burden of armaments hardly loads to a goal. FRENCH PRESS MORE FRIENDLY. BUT SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSED. Paris, October 21. While most of the newspapers are friendly to Mr. Churchill's proposal, it is pointed out that even if Germany agreed to the change it would only complicate tho military situation for Prance, as Germany could spend on her army the saving effected on battleships. There is a general agreement that Franco would bo unable to afford to sacrifice her naval programme, which was adopted in the hope of regaining ■her former position as a naval Power. "BLAST FROM A SYREN." LORD SELBOURNE ON MR. CHURCHILL. (Rec. October 23, 0.15 a.m.) London,, October 22. Lord Selbourn'e does not think that the electioneering speeches method of opening communications with foreign l'owers should bo icpcatcd. The alternatives of "a blast trom a syren" with "a murmur of the flute, he said, could produce nothing except international discord. The proper channel for such communications was tho Foreign Office, which was quite competent to conduct negotiations to improvo our relations with our foreign neighbours. ift-'was impertinent for Britain, continued his Lordship, to dictate to any foreign nation in respect to what concorned them alone. The naval standard best suited to the present British requirements was two keels to one of tho next strongest European naval Power. That standard was within our national means, and would enable us to fully secure tho groat duty and responsibility of ensuring the development of every part of the Empire. It would also eliablo us not to exclude tho question of naval control ill the Mediterranean. ( The Mediterranean was as essential as the control of tho North Sea and the Channel. Tho lesson of Lord Nelson's life greatly needed to lie learnt to-day. It w r as not what a man eould get out of his country, but what lie could give to it that mattered.