CABINET AND THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1965, 23 January 1914, Page 7

CABINET AND THE NAVY.

|(SERIt)US CRISIS ..pDINGJIf! ||JWAT" WILL HAPPEN fjtfj fPUBLIC INTEREST VERY KEEN.J !"■;.•.':■■'' ■■.'.' ~.' ; "' TV. , ,' ',';'• K , '-v. , '*'?- ' ? '"■*■''' ' : .:: <: 'r'A B^Mcgrejih^rrcss; AESDcffition-CopyrUhl fs?''&?M?ti<- London, January sSThere-is keen'controversy regarding to-morrow's Cabinet meeting; ■'■'..■■ "■■'. ■ It is expected that Mr. Asquith will ■decide in Mr. Churchill's favour. '■ . /fhe key to tho problem is tiro relation of the Dominion's warships to tho British standard, particularly as regards New Zealand and Canada. '■■■ ■ '■'- Tho "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal) considers that it was a false step to accelerate tho building of three ships to replaco those of Canada, which, with the clearing away of arrears of building construction, had swollen the year's cs» peiulituro.by an extra four millions and u half. ■ ■ . ■■-While the "Chronicle" does not question the laying down of four Dreadnoughts in the coming year, the "Daily News" (Liberal) urges. that only two should be laid odwn. . . ... The "Times" says; "It would bo tin* wise- for tho Unionists to reckon too confidently on any immediate breach in the Cabinet. Tho movement for the reduction of the Estimates, has obviously gathered considerable strength, but it is difficult to believe that Ministers will stultify their previous/ policy, or that disruption will follow over' the Estimates, which are presumably based upon the five- years' programme already explained in Parliament and by the Admiralty memorandum to the 'Canadian Government. .■ ... (Hoc, January 22, 9.40 p.m.) ' ,-.; ■ London, January 22. iUr. Sydney Buxton, President of the Boar dof Trade, said that tlie Government had asked for largo sums for ttio Navy, but then the Government must secure absolute security for her shores, and must, therefore, maintain a sixty nor cent, mirgin. Mr. H. Pike Pease, M.P. (Unionist), speaking at Huddersfkld said that- the Unionists must oliminaie ■party feelings, and stand behind Mr. 'Winston Churchill on the Navy question. Mr. A. "11. Lee, M.P. (Unionist), speaking at Gosport, said that if Mr. Churchill stood firm, then "oven if a hundred Radical members of tho House, belonging to this suicide club, mako good, then the rest will vote against him." There would bo 250 Unionists up. bis side. I - ■■; : FRENZIED FINANCE. ':..■■" (Rce. January 23. 0.10 a.m.) ■ London, January 22. The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal) says that it is undeniable that the Navy Estimates have created a. difficult financial problem. Mr. Churchill has spent money in lavish profusion, and tho actual expenditure will exceed last year's provision by nearly four millions. ■ OANAPA AND THE NAVY. ■f MR. BORDEN STANDS FIRM. "Times"—Sydney "Stin" Special Cables. ■"" (lice. January 22, S.IQ p.m.) Ottawa, January 21. ■ . • Speaking in tho Dominion House of Commons, in reply to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, (luring the Address-in-Henly debate; thi* Prime Minister, Mr. Borden, reaffirmed his faith in the principle of a naval (?rant, but in view of tho Liberals' intention to reject the measure in the Senate from partisan motives, his party had deemed it inadvisable oiteo more to advertise to the world that Canada had refused to aid in the defence of the Empire. Cabinet was i nevertheless determined that the ships should be provided, and a proposal would b'e submitted nt the proper season. Mr. Borden added that he was quite willing to participate in any movement which might meet with the approval of the- Admiralty for some restriction of I the present activity in naval construction. .. Ottawa, January 22. Mri L'Esperanee, n French Canadian member of the House of has given notice to repeal the Laurier Naval Act of 1910. A group of Quebec members support him, but it is mi likely that the measure will receive any general support, the feeling being that no action should be taken until Mr, Borden's Dill is a;;ain before tho House.