In the House of Commons on Wednesday the Foreign Office
Vote was discussed. We have commented elsewhere on Sir Edward Grey's speech, but may refer here to that of Mr. Bonar Law, which was extremely reasonable and business-like. Mr. Bonar Law turned an argument delightfully against Mr. Dillon—who had made a characteristic speech representing Great Britain as a dragon of oppression in dealing with weak nations—when he said that if the Home Rule Bill passed Mr. Dillon would himself be a ruler over an aggrieved minority and might then begin for the first time to sympathize with the Foreign Office. Mr. Bonar Law approved provisionally of the scheme for the Trans-Persian railway. Finally, as regards the Mediterranean, he said that Sir Edward Grey's under- taking that the Government would remain "a naval Power" in that sea was "not at all adequate to our needs." In his opinion, besides a preponderating force in the North Sea, there must be in the Mediterranean a fleet " strong enough to overcome any probable combination."
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