LONDON AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 116, 9 October 1914, Page 6

LONDON AND THE WAR.

■WHY THE NAVY WAS READY,

A MONTH OF PREPARATION.

(Sydney Telegraph's Correspondent). London, August 12. History will show that the British Government had ample notice of the outbreak of hostilities. Air Churchill was able to announce twenty-four hours after the mobilisation of the Navy was offered that the service was ready for action. As a matter of fact preparations had been proceeding at full speed for nearly a month. Although no statement has yet been made to the British public, I understand from a good source that Mr Asquith and his colleagues became convinced within a few dayß of the assassination of the Austrian Crown Prince that a European war was inevitable. Immediately Austria made it clear, which she did without loss of time, that the crime at Sarajevo was to bo made the excuse for the chastisement of the Servians, and probably the annexation of their country, first Russia, then France, intimated to. the British Foreign Office that nothing Bliort of a mira«|g could prevent a general European war in August. There was never the least question about Russia attacking Servia, if Servia was invaded. And the secret treaty, both offensive and defensive, between France and Russia nmdo it certain that France would be immediately drawn in if Germany interfered. It is true that the bond between Eng'and, France and Russia is of such a nature that this country might possibly stood neutral. Sir Edward Grey's speech clearly showed, however, that the conditions imposed upon Germany made our neutrality almost impossible. Germany was not only to remain out of Belgium, but she was also to keep clear of the coast |of France with her navy. England went into the war as a matter of course.

CHE WAR AND lIO.VIE RULE.

There, was a highly significant association between the attitude of the British Government towards Home Rule and the pending conflagration on the Continent. It is now generally agreed that Mr Asquith's course upon Home Ru'.e during the few weeks which covered tho debate of the Amending Bill in the House of Lords, and the abortive conference 'n Buckingham Palace, was dictated by a great necessity for avoiding an arbitrary agreement until the European crisis was settled. On the one hand he had the definite statement from Paris and St. Petersburg that a great European war was certain, and that England in all possibility would bo involved. On the other he knew that an immediate decision upon the Irish question would be followed by a position of extreme gravity in Ireland, and a serious division of the people throughout the rest of the United Kingdom. If you look back through tho newspapers of those weeks, you will find that the Prime Minister was constantly charged with wearisome and dangerous procrastination. He was held up by every Tory newspaper as a Prime Minister who could not make up his mind, and under whose Utile the British nation wa3 drifting into civil war. Even his own side attacked him. There were special Radical meetings called "to stiffen the back of the Cabinet." But Mr Asquith took no notice, and no settlement came. It is now clear that he and the members of the Cabinet who shared the great secret with him were, resolved at all costs to keep Home Rule undecided and the nation free from an internal strife. Had a Provisional Government been set up in Ulster or fighting commenced between the Nationalists and Unionists, it is doubtful if England would at the present time have presented the solid front as she does to Germany. But the policy of procrastination succeeded, and all the white the Admiralty and the War Office were working at the highest pressure day and night to prepare for the participation in the Continental maelstrom. As a matter of fact, the fleet was upon a perfect footing when reviewed by the King at Spithead a few weeks ago.