THE RACE FOR ARMAMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 205, 19 August 1908, Page 2

THE RACE FOR ARMAMENTS.

BIUTAIA' AND GERMANY. Berlin, August 17. 1 rmcc Jliielow s iiow.spaper Slid 1 Deutsciie ltek-hs Corivspudenz hints I that the premature agitation fur disa) liniment is calculated to impede British and German efforts to understand tli« aims of each other's u aval policy. BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY. London, August 17. Ihe Times says ISritain's foreign policy is too gravely vital t 0 he ivmovetl from the higii plane of statesmanlike guidance by inexperienced politicians. Tlio Standard accuses Mr. LloydGeorge and Mr. Winston ClmrehiH' of assuming the charge- of foreign affairs with a \iew to ousting Sir Edward Grey, tlio Foreign Secretary, TO MAINTAIN THE IUO-POWER STANDARD. FINDINU THE MONEY. London, August 17. I 1 lie telegraph says the Government is considering an offer of financiers to. find £1,000,000 (? £100,000,000) oil nominal terms to meet the necessities of tile fleet without disorganising the annual budgets. f'iiis offer ot aid is made in view of the renewed competition in naval armaments abroad and is intended to show the determination to maintain the two-Power standard. The revenue would meet me normal ex- „ and the loan fund would pro-

Vide for special requirements. An influential section of the Cabinet is 1,1 favor of accepting the otter. The Daily News utterly discredits fhis report. After .Ministers' speeches on tiie folly of the navy scare, says' the News, the country will not tolerate an increase of taxation to meet the navy panic. * : OPINION IN LONDON C'IIICLES. LOAN FINANCIERS UNDISCOVERED. Received 18, 11.7 p.m. Ijondon, August IS. •While not denying the possibility of some of the loan anil a reasonable amount for navy expansion in the event of circumstances demanding it. City circles are unfavorable to such an operation, because of its effect on Consols and other good securities. Careful inquiry has failed to discover the financiers alluded to in the Telegraph's story as offering the loan.

GEItJLiN OPINION. "HANDS OFF!" Received 18, 11.7 p.m. Berlin, August 18. German Conservative newspapers are emphatic that Gerunuiy cannot even consider the question of allowing the ideas of another Power to influence her armaments. FRENCH OPINION. Received 18, 11.7 p.m. Paris, August 18. The French newspapers re-echo British opinion on the situation towards less tension and an ultimate halt in shipbuilding. If it was to come it must now be left to develop from the German caid. A LOAN IN INSTALMENTS. Received 18, 11.15 p.m. London, August 18. The "Daily Express" foreshadows the ultimate issue of a naval loiui in instalments. The ''Westminster- Gazette'' favors a loan to enable the nation to fix the shipbuilding programme for four years, subject to modification if Ger- | many modifies hers.