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King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 613, 22 October 1913, Page 5

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I - .f^MP I AN OFFEK j;i ■ J Mr Win"ton c ■ f:t; rt■ ii f■.l- '- §§§ -J the Admirnltv. nv.sio : ■ ' " speech upon nsvnl policy ;t< ter on Saturday. ' •Mfr'nTi He paid U>«t in- whk aw some trusted Liberate were about the expense of the Naval ! qqug mate?, but, he gave them full i en:;: IB that next year's total would be. :=nl> stantially higher. - But, he continued, the figorrp itui.-i not be considered alone. Gladstom apent a third of the national revenue on armaments, while the present rate is only five per cent, higher, and the burden on the working classes was proportionately less than forty year; ago. The Naval Estimates had advanced by twelve millions in the past ten years, but the seaborne trade had increased by 150 millions and the national debt had been reduced by a hundred millions. The only method of reducing naval expenditure along lines of international agreement. The Government had no intention of moving in the matter of a naval holiday unlegß Germany was considered to be acting stri:tly in accord, but a point had been reached where the relations of the Great Powers, however amicable, seemed to produce no effect upon warlike preparations. Britain's relations with Germany had greatly improved without loss of friendship to other countrirs, and the moment was therefore favourable for a friendly reference to a naval holiday. "The proposal I put forward, in the name of the Government is quite simple," he said. "Next year, apart from the Canadian ships or their equivalent, and apart from anything required by any development of the Mediterranean, Britain will lay down four great ships to Germany's two. "Now. wo say to Gerrmany, 'lf you postpone beginning to build two ships for a yea", we will postpone, in absolute good faith, the building of four nhins for (he --eme priod.' This will save Germany rix millions and Britain nearly tvrvV. while the relative s'.rrngth will be unchanged. i;.- nm. po«,-ihle, either for Ger;!i;;nv nr rms-lvm; to do this, unless other Ore sr. Powers agree. But I am i eonvinerti thai.. they will follow the j Anglo-German lead. Tho relative strength 01 ail will be just us great as if all had built ships aa at present designed, and scores of millions would be rescued for the progress of mankind." He added, that if 1914 were too near, the proposal could be applied to 191.",. Ho was quite imperviouß to the objections of tho great armament firms they must be servants, not mastars. The cessation of the building of great ships would not produce a violent dislocation of the industry. The time would come when the present compct it ion would he a thing of (he. part, and tho great Naval Powers would then look hack with feelings of regret upon their present policy.