The debate ended with a speech from Sir Edward Grey,
in
which he obtained an easy victory over the Liberal critics of our foreign policy. The Foreign Secretary ended with a piece of common sense which is well worth quoting in full :-
"If we were to let our Navy fall into a position of inferiority we should lay the whole Empire bare. Even if we were a self- contained island not dependent on sea communications we could not allow our naval superiority to be impaired, unless we were prepared to keep up an army on a, very different scale. We do not advocate that. Whether you look at it from the point of view of communication within the Empire or from the point of view of protection of these islands, our naval strength is essential. All we can do to demonstrate that we have no aggressive desires, and that no friendship we have with anybody else is directed towards aggressive designs against another Power, that we are doing, and shall continue to do. But as we are at the present moment we cannot but say that the Navy Estimates presented by the Govern- ment are absolutely necessary in the interests of the country."
Previous page
