THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 113, 10 June 1909, Page 4

THE BRITISH NAVY.

IS AND SHALL BE SUPREME, SAYS ME. ASQUITH, St. Andrew's Hall, whicli holds almost five thousand, wag packed in eveTy corner on Saturday, 17tlli April, wiliea Mr. Asquith appeared in fulfilment of a longstanding engagement to address the Liberal® of Glasjjmv. Mr. T. McKinnon wood, M.P., presided. Mr. Asquith, ivJio 'had an enthusiastic reception, referred at the outset to the distinitances in Turkey, and sftid it would die a tragedy if the first chapter in the new alraals of emancipated Turkey were to close in civil tumult and fratricidal strife. The desire of this country Was to isee the Turkish Government carry out a policy of reform and of good and just administration, and any Turkish Government wliich pursued these paths honestly, with a single eye to the public interest, might count upon the continued and strong sympathy of His Majesty's Government. (Cheers.) Proceeding, the Premier asked what were the most urgent practical problems, which at this moment confronted the statesmansllrip of the civilised world. The answer \Vas- that these problems were two—on the one side the problem of armaments; on the other side the problem of social reform. From the point of vimv of the progress' of humanity, there could hardly be .a more ironical juxtaposition. (Hear, hear.) Dealing with the question of armaments, Mr. Afiquith said ihe bud been described as a kind of Pinchbeck l'almerston dazzled with militarism, and that he dTeamlt in Dreadnoughts. It was true of himself, as it ivas of every one of his colleagues, that there was not a man among them who did not desire with all .his heart to pursue and to provide every poslsibTe safeguard for peace, to eachew unnecessary adventures, to cur-! tail unproductive expenditure, to consolidate this Empire, not % adding to its area, but by extending wiltihin its boundaries—as they had done with conspicuous suncess in South African-toy extending within its boundaries the unifying influences of free and responsible Government. (OheerS.) Naval supremacy, carrying with it the command of the sea. whatever it might, be to other nations, was to us a matter of life and of death. (Cheers.) To those wiho said the Government had not gone far enough, he said there was no ground for aliarm or disquietude. The British Navy mas at this moment, and must in the immediate future continue to be, overwhelmingly superior, both In material and in peritonnel, not only to any single fleet, but to any combination of fleets, that could by possibility be brought agaist it. (Che'ere.) Tlie Government hkd given the most explicit assurance that as soon as t'he necessity afose they would not hesitate to exercise at once the powers which they were asking from the House of Commons. "If you. believe that that assurance is honestly given," added Mr. Asquith, "in good faith by the responsible Government of the day, what more do you -want?" (Loud aud continued cheers.)

He wanted, (he proceeded, to carry not Only his friends with him—lie wanted to carry, if live could, the sober judgment of the nation with him in this matter, which ought never to ] w ve been allowed to enterr the domain of party controversy. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the offers of the selfgoverning colonies, which he described ns gracious and tactful, Mr. Asquith threw out the personal suggestion that it might be possible that we shouM bring together into consultation if need be into formal conference—these great colonies of tire Mother Country, so as to consult as to our respective shares ill this great interdependent work of ttie naval defence of the Empire. (Hear hear.) '