In the Reichstag on Thursday the German Chancellor made a
statement in regard to German naval policy. His Govern- ment, he declared, had expressed to the British Government their willingness to come to an agreement for an exchange of information about shipbuilding. Without wishing to impugn the good faith of Germany, we feel bound to say that we cannot attach any very great importance to this scheme. It will certainly not put an end to wrangling in regard to the numbers of battleships to be completed in a particular year. On the con- trary, it is only too likely to produce accusations and counter- accusations that one or the other Government is practising an economy of truth in its official forecasts as to its programme. The rest of Herr von Hollweg's speech was taken up with a reiteration of Germany's refusal to agree to limitation of armaments. For the Powers to agree as to such limitation meant setting up a kind of table of precedence in sea power, in which Britain would have to be accorded the first place. We are bound to say that we recognise to the full the impossibility of Germany or any other Great Power being asked to assent in the abstract to our permanent control of the sea. Of course, she will not give such assent. If we deem supremacy at sea absolutely vital to us, as we must if we are to survive, we must maintain that supremacy through our own exertions, and not by any international pact.
