WARSHIP PROFITS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 336, 24 June 1911, Page 9

WARSHIP PROFITS.

TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH BRITISH FIRMS. The final stage of the year-old competition between the English shipbuilding firm, Messrs Armstrong, Elswick, and Messrs Palmer, Barrow, for the building of two Turkish Dreadomtghts 01 19,250 tons each, provoked a remarkable debate in the Turkish Chamber on April 8. It was terminated only by the Grand Vizier threatening to adjourn if the action of the Turkish Cabinet in giving the contract to Messrs Armstrong were not approved. The outline of the complicated affair is as follows:-Messrs Armstrong were first on the scene, imt in face of the competition of Messrs Palmer reduced the original quotation for the two ships bv as much as .COSMOO. The technical commission of the Turkish Admiralty decided that the contract should be given to Palmer's, but this decision was altered by the Cabinet, who re-opened the negotiations with Armstrong's. The latter consented to supply only the hulls and engines, leaving the Turks free purchase of Oie guns where they liked. This action on the part of the Government was unpopular with the majority, who appointed a commission to examine the matter and provoked a, debate. Thev demanded that the dossier of the transaction should be produced, hut the Minister of Marine replied in the Chamber that he would rather resign than produce it. The debate becoming acute, the Grand Vizier made the curious statement, that the^ reasons (hat had led the Cabinet to decide on Messrs Arnnsrong were the result of an exchange of views between the Turkish Government and the British Office. His opponents challenged the Grand Vizier's suggestion that the British Government had favored one British firm against another. The Grand Vizier then stated that (lie vote on the question would be taken as a vote of confidence. The Cabinet received a majority of 70. many deputies abstaini'ii". Tfc is understood that the coiitract for the guns of (he new ships will probably be given to Krupps. The statement was made that, while Jurkev lind-arrani;eii to buv these Dreadnoughts of the British firm for £sl per lon without, armament, precisely the same ships without, guns cost the British Government Cfi3 a ton.