BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 208, 24 August 1908, Page 4

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Wlli NOT A TEEATY WITH GEEAIANY'i SOCIAL REFORMS AND AEAIAAIENTS. Air. Lloyd-George and Air. Churchill are alleged to bo tile leaders of an economy section of the Cabinet who see in reduced armaments a means of linaneing social reforms without having recourse to a higher tariff. The policy which Air. Uoyu-George is now advocating found expression in the .Manchester Guardian early in .March last.' On -March 2nd the House of Commons discussed tin; question'whether the expendible on the Army and Navy can l«e l educed. Air. Murray Alacdonald moved: "That, in view of the continued friendly relations with foreign [Powers announced in the gracious Speech from the Throne, litis House trusts that further reductions may be made, in expenditure ( on armaments and effect be given to the policy of retrenchment and reform to wlijch the Government is pledged," .but Air. Asquith moved to leave out all alter the word "House," and to add "will support his .Majesty's .Ministers m .such economies of naval and military expenditure as are consistent with the adequate defence of His .Majesty's dominions." After a prolonged debate, Air. Asquiths .amendment was carried by 1)20 voles lo 73—Government majority 247.. Discussing the debate the Manchester Guardian said:—

'•On ite success in ultimately reducing military and naval expenditure the future of Liberalism will largely depend. Nobody wants to leave the country inadequately defended. We note at the same time with extreme pleasure that the lirst part of Air. Alacdouaid's resolution, which based tlte demand for economies uii our continued friendly relations with foreign Powers, was embodied in the Government amendment.

" Our Liberal policy has not yet touched the causes that make for competitive

armaments. The late .Conservative Government began both in the Army and Navy a programme of administrative economies which the Liberal Government has by now carried to its furthest practicable point. The-hopes of further economies lie in the application of distinctively Liberal principles of policy to the Army and Navy Budgets; the Admiralty and thu AVar Ollics need the

active co-operation of the Colonial Otihit anil the Foreign Oilice in tlie .solution of problems to which they arc unequal by themselves. It is because we are so convinced of the necessity of this cooperation that the acceptance by the Government of the first half of Mr. Macdonald's resolution seems so important. * " Apply the rule that the policy of friendly .relations should govern arflriments to the Navy Estimates, atid what is the first fact that jumps to the-eyes If That Germany is the one important Power with which avc have not concluded an agreement of friendship, ami that the scare agitation about the fleet is entirely due to fears on account of the new German programme. It follows, does it not, that a Lib&ral Government anxious to reduce its naval armaments should work for an agreement with Germany? To wish the end is to wish for the means. It will be urged that there are no outstanding subjects-of disagreement, as there were with France and Russia. But it is not necessary to disagree before there is agreement. " Mr. Asquith threw down a good subject for agreement in his discussion of the reasons for Germany's naval ambitious, 'i'boy were natural, he thought, to a nation whose population was becoming more and more dependent bolii for food and raw materials upon oversea, supplies and with an extending maritime commerce which (hey were bound to protect. We are glad to see so frank a recognition of the legitimate causes of Germany's ambitions at sea. Hut why not remove them, in so far as they are likely to become a tax upon us, by negotiating an agreement for the immunity of private property at sea'/''