THE LIBERAL LEADERS AND THE NAVY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—If Free-trade Unionists are to vote—as they must— against the Government at the next Election, one difficulty anyhow arises which some may feel to be serious. The more Radical wing of the Liberal party will certainly desire, and attempt, to obtain a 'reduction of expenditure on both Army and Navy. The former one need not now consider, but the Navy is vital. Many must believe that, as it is, we do not build a ship or train a man beyond the very minimum of our necessities. I do not feel at all pressed by the Home-rule difficulty ; but what assurance have we that, if we help the Liberal leaders to power, there will be no tampering with the Navy ? For it still remains to be seen which section of the Liberal party would, in practice, control the common action. has any idea of decreasing the Navy. We venture to assert that if he were to approach Mr. Asquith or any of the chief Liberals on this point, our correspondent would obtain a perfectly satisfactory answer.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
