In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Arthur Lee
moved the vote of censure on the Government which had originally stood in the name of Mr. Balfour. The Resolution declared that the shipbuilding programme of the Government did not "sufficiently secure the safety of the Empire." Mr. Leo, who disavowed all intention of turning the occasion to party uses, appealed to the Government to build the four Contingent ships of their programme as soon as possible. Sir Edward Grey admitted that when the German programme was completed, Germany would have "a Fleet more powerful than any the world had yet seen." As for our relations with Germany, two things might jeopardise the present amity : an attempt on our part to isolate Germany, or an attempt by any Power to isolate us. The German declarations were not binding, but they did "dispose of the supposition that Germany was preparing to have thirteen 'Dreadnoughts' in December, 1910."
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