Lord Cromer has been blamed for the outspokenness of these
words ; but we say deliberately that we consider not only that he was justified in using them, but that it was his duty to the country to speak as be spoke, disagreeable as the task must have been. It is perfectly true that the Germans have an absolute right, if they like, to build a great navy ; but the fact that they have that right, and that we cannot gainsay it, must never blind us to another fact,—namely, that battleships are built in order to fight with other battleships and not as a show or a luxury. Granted, as it must be granted, that the command of the sea is essential to us, we dare not allow ourselves to fall into a position where our power at sea will be weaker than that of some other Power or of some likely combination of Powers. But the commend of the sea can only be bought at a great price. Hence it follows that we must be prepared to spend largely on our Navy. Since there is no Fortunatus's purse for States any more than for individuals, this means that we cannot afford to spend our money on other matters until the command of the sea has been assured. Those who realise our perils abroad, as Lord Cromer does, are therefore by necessity strict economists at home.
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