In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Murray Macdonald
moved a resolution condemning the "enormous increase" of expenditure on armaments. He admitted that the expenditure should be such as to provide for the security of the Empire both at home and abroad. The Government, how- ever, demanded more than was necessary, and he looked in vain for an adequate reason. The Anglo-Russian Agreement had re- moved the fear of an attack upon India, and there was no jui3tifi- cationfor keeping a considerable force in South Africa. Compar- ing our naval strength with the combined strength of Germany and the United States, he contended that we were exceeding the standard of safety. Moreover, a combination of Germany and the United States was quite improbable, and our policy ought to take account only of possibilities. Great Britain, in fact, was setting a bad example, and ought to begin a policy of reduction even if other Powers did not follow..
