We have it on Mr. Churchill's authority that the Navy
Estimates are still being considered by the Cabinet. Apparently the process of consideration will not be an easy one, for Mr. Lloyd George's pronouncement has thrown Ministers into a state of confusion, manifest to any- one who reads the newspapers. Mr. Lloyd George was followed by Mr. Hobhonee in somewhat similar vein. On Thursday night came counterblasts from Lord Haldane and Mr. Samuel. The Government, said Lord Haldane, had laid down a standard from which they ought not rashly to depart one way or the other. The Liberal Party did not propose to go back on the declarations made publicly in Parliament. Mr. Samuel said that nothing less than a superiority of sixty per cent in capital ships over the next strongest naval Power would be adequate. We are glad to be able to add that a meeting of business men of the City of London is being organized to urge upon the Govern- ment the necessity of a strong naval programme.
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