INVASION OF BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 4, 29 June 1911, Page 5

INVASION OF BRITAIN.

MR. BALFOUR'S VIVID SPEECH. ON THE DECLARATION OF LONDON. By Cable—Praw A««oci*tion—Copyright Received 28, 10.45 p.m. London, June 25. Mr. Balfour,, in the course of a speech to members of the Stock Exchange, said that in war time, starvation, not invasion, was Britain's danger. A weaker naval Power, without an effective blockade, might so interfere with the supply of foodstuffs that no self-sacrifice or patriotism would enable us in time of stress to deal with the situation. Such a national emergency might arise under the Declaration of London. To the treatment, first, of food as contraband, gecondly, the converting of mercantile vessels into cruisers on the high seas, and, thirdly, the capture and sinking of neutrals, the enemy might say: "No matter •what it costs two years hence, iwe 'will use -our privateers in order to secure an immediate advantage' in a life or death struggle." Mr. Balfour continued: "The Declaration of London is equivalent to the destruction of Britain's great naval power. The-invasion of Britain would be a very risky operation. That, was an advantage which no parchments could take' away. It is an asset which cannot be tossed in the gutter by a Government, however careless, but her insular position makes it very difficult for Britain to exercise pressure on a belligerent Power. Blockade and the power of seizing an enemy's vessels and goods are almost Britain's only methods of exercising pressure. The present Government expressly Tefused, two years ago, to try to get property at sea made none-liable to capture, because it was ■the only method of dealing with the belligerents. You do not promote peace by making it relatively cheap and easy to go to war with Britain." A MATTER OF NATIONAL CONCERN. FURTHER PROTESTS. Received 28, 10 p.m. London, Juen. 28. At Hcrley Mr. E. R. Jones, M.P., seconded a protest against the Declaration of London. He contended the matter ■ involved no Liberal Party interests, and '. was solely a matter of national eoncern. Admiral Lord Charles- Beresford, Mr. Gibson Bowles, M.P., and Mr. A. J. Balfour addressed a great overflow meeting. Admiral Sir Hed worth Lambton, in a letter to the newspapers, strongly opposes the ratification of the Declaration of London. A STEP BACKWARD. London, June 27. Three Chambers of Commerce have signed and forwarded to Mr. Asquitli and Sir Edward Grey a protest against | the Declaration of London. !