NEW NAVAL POLICY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 42, 20 October 1913, Page 5

NEW NAVAL POLICY.

IN HUMANITY’S INTEREST.

OUR GERMAN RELATIONS.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] * .[United Press Association.] London, October 19. 1 ! Mr Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), speaking at Manj Chester, opened with references to the Tragic week. He expressed sympathy with Germany in the Zeppelin disaster. .Referring to Home Hide, he said that he had little or nothing to subtract from his Dundee speech. The last two years had brought all parties nearer the subject. In Ireland, the door was always open to a fair and honorable solution. He proceeded to make an important declaration with regard to the naval policy. He was, aware that some trusted Liberals were disquieted about expense and the Xaval Estimates. He gave lull warning that next year’s would he substantially higher, but the figures must not be considered alone. Mr Gladstone spent a third of the national revenue on armaments,, and the prosent rate was- only s.per, cent, higher. The burden on the : working classes was proportionately less than 40 years ago. The Xaval Estimates had advanced by il2. n()0,000 in a decade, but sea-borne trade had .-increased U? Cl 30,000.000. The national debt had been reduced by £100,000,000. The only method of reducing naval expm dituro was .along the lines of an international agreement. TJio Government had no intention of moving in the matter of a naval holiday unless Germany was considered to be acting strictly fairly,) but a point had been reached* where the relations of the great Powers, however amicable, seemed to product no defect in warlike preparations. Britain’s relations with Germany had greatly improved witho"s%o; loss of friendship with other countries. The moment was, therefore, favorable to a friendly reference. .’’:, ~ a, ■ ■ ■ Relinquishing Armaments. : Till L-: 1 V ■ . “The naval holiday proposal I wil. put forward in the name of the Government,” he continued, “will be quite simple. Next year, apart from Canadian ships or‘thoir-equivalent, apart from 'anytiling required by any dlbvehement in thelMhditorranean, • Britain will' lay down- four- great ships and Germany two. 1 Xow we say to GomH;L%‘: “If'ydillp’ostpone beginning to'IAHM *two'LlfriU lihis! year (we tHI postpoiidjU in qbs«l|ute; gqod faith, tin . building of four ships in. the same period. This 'would save Germany shC‘millions 1 and Britain nearly twelve millions, while their relative strengths would b 6 unchanged. It is not possible ffir either Germany or ourselves to do this unless thO other great Powers-agree, but I am convinced thai tl|ey lyjll billowy the Anglo-German lead.’ We should all be jtisl as groat as Tf wediad built ships as at .present designed, and’scores ,of millions wouh bo rescued for the. progress of mankind.” He’added , that if 1914 was too nc'ar, the pronosal could be applied to 1913. He wb., quite impervious to the objections of the grea 1 armament firms'. They must he servants and hot masters. The cessation of building great ships would not produce a violent dislocation of industry , The time would come when the present competition would he a tr.ing of tin past. The great naval Powers would then look back with feelings of regret Referring to land, he said that the first vital step in reform would be the establishment of the minimum standard rate of wages for agricultural laborers.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPIRE.

(Received 8.0 a.m.) London, Ocober 10

An article in the Quarterly lieview states that naval defence requires reviewing in the light of the responsibilities of the whole Empire. The Mother Country cannot avoid injury being done to the Navy by concentration in Home waters, but can mitigate it by providing an association with the Dominions, which would give a. margin of strength as would enable an interchange of units in the different oceans. <