BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 204, 18 August 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

iS WAR IiNM II'AJiLEI MR. CHURCHILL'S RK-ASSI'RAXCLia, THE DESi'miiS OF THE COLONIES. Received 17, 10.15 p.m. London, August 17. Mr. Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, speaking at Swansea, strong-, ly deprecated tho attempt made by some people in Britain to spread the belief that war between Britain and Germany was inevitable. It was. all nonsense. Britain was an island, and .no Government in power was likely to depart in -auy degree from thv naval policy securing the country effectively from outside invasion. Secondly, Uiere was no collision of primary interests between Britain and Germany in any quarter of the globe. Germany, M said, wus among our very best customers. Regarding the apprehension of some of the colonies «s to their being soizoble in time of stress, nothing, lie said, would alter tlie destiny of great communities like Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India.

Receive'd 17, 11.2 p.m. Sir. Churchill continued that tho colonies were pursuing their own paths and their own destiny, which would lie unalterable in future aa tho-result of any struggle in Jfiurope. After ridiculing the idea of two great countries figilitmg for what remained, namely, tropical plantations and small and scattered coaling stations, he concluded liy urging tlie granting of Home Rule to Ireland as. a great act of statecraft.