Sir Edward Grey in a speech to his constituents at
Alnwick on Wednesday dwelt upon the fact that foreign nations are showing a disposition to increase their Navies. At the present time we had a Navy perfectly adequate to meet any probable combination that could be brought against us. But when great programmes of naval expenditure were produced in other countries the attention of this country must be devoted to those programmes, "because if they are carried out in their entirety it will undoubtedly become necessary for us in the interests, not of the Empire, but for the preservation of our independence, and for our own safety at home, to make further increases in our own Navy." Considering Sir Edward Grey's habitual moderation of language, his conciliatory and un- excitable disposition, his antipathy to anything in the shape of Jingoism, his very natural desire as a Radical statesman —for in home affairs Sir Edward Grey is a strong Radical— to prevent the embarrassment which must be caused to his party by large demands for naval expenditure, and finally, considering that owing to his office Sir Edward Grey is in a position to realise fully the actions and intentions of foreign Powers, it is impossible not to attach the very gravest significance to his words. They mean that we shall have at once to meet the inoreased expenditure of Germany by increased 'expenditure here. With thiwoonolusion we entirely agree' but we dineerely trust that the necessary expenditure will he wisely made, and that before it is incurred we shall take stock of our whole naval position and decide what forms of fresh outlay are essential and what non-essential. •We do not grudge a single pound that is well spent on the Navy, 'but we do grudge money ill spent,—spent, that is, in a flutter of bombastic excitement or Of irresponsible optimism while John Bull is asked to sleep at ease, lulled by brass bands playing "Rule Britannia" and "The Right Little, Tight Little Island?'
Previous page
