Mr. Asquith confessed that if the Government ignored the importance
of the question before Parliament, they would deserve the condemnation which was always pronounced on those faithless to "a great public trust." After emphasising the fact that the comparisons of our shipbuilding programme with that of Germany implied no unfriendliness, and that Germany had every right to build as many ships as she thought necessary, he declared that he could see no hope of a. reduction of expenditure by agreement. The Government were animated only by the instinct of self-preservation. He could not, however, accept Mr. Balfour's figures. The critical time would be in March, 1912, when the Germans, if they accelerated their programme, might have twenty ' Dreadnoughts ' to our seventeen. But the Government would have plenty of time to increase their programme accordingly. Distinct "declarations" had come from Germany that she did not intend to accelerate her programme. These did not amount to a pledge, but they were explicit. The ship- building of Germany in the last twelve months had "greatly surprised" the Government. The provision not only of yards and slips, but of apparatus, had been enormous. We could no longer console ourselves with the reflection that we had the advantage in speed of construction. This was "a most serious, a vital fact."
Previous page
