On Thursday the Prime Minister used the vote for the
Committee of Imperial Defence to make a very important statement. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, a short time before his death, appointed a Sub-Committee of the Committee to reconsider the whole question of invasion in the light of certain representations made by Lord Roberts. Of this Sub- Committee Mr. Asquith was Chairman. The conclusions arrived at are substantially those set forth by Mr. Balfour in his much-debated speech of 1905. As long as the naval supremacy of this country is assured, invasion on a large scale " is an absolutely impracticable operation." On the other hand, " if we were permanently to lose the command of the sea, whatever might be the strength or the organisation of your military forces here at home, even though you had an Army like that of Germany—indeed, whatever might be its strength and organisation—not only would it be impossible for this
country to escape invasion but the subjection of this country by the enemy would be inevitable."
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