Sir Edward Grey went on to declare that as regards
the future, it might be that there world be some agreement of a perfectly voluntary nature ; but it could not be the result of pressure on either side. "It must be simply the result of an equal amount of free will on either side." They all knew what the German naval programme was, and it was known that we must keep our Navy not only touperior to any one Navy, but to any probable combination which might be brought ag,amst us. " In time the German naval pro- gramme would be completed, or approaching completion, and there would be an ascertained proportion between the Navies of the two countries which might perhaps put this rivalry in naval expenditure at rest." Meantime Mr. McKenna had given such a definite statement as to our present strength in ships, and our superiority in battleships up to 1912, as ought to put the mind of any reasonable man at rest up to that period.
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