CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900 — Page 424

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In the first place my Committee would beg leave to point out that the first essential of British Policy, after the drift and vacillation of the last few years, and especially

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since the China-Japan War, is that it should be firm. of opinion, however, that with our present force of battleships in these waters, i.e. a force so relatively weak as compared with the fleets of the other Powers, it is practically impossi- ble for Great Britain to adopt a firm attitude in the Far East. The only way of securing respect for our counsels out here and restoring our damaged prestige is to increase the number of our battleships on the China sea. We addressed you on this ques- tion on the 30th. March, 5th. July, 30th. July and 14th. Sep- tembar, and, although happily our recent understanding with Germany has improved the situation temporarily to a certain ex- tent, we cannot help believing that, in order to secure the permanence of that understanding, and to obtain respect for our representations at Peking, it is absolutely necessary that we should have a stronger Fleet out here.

We are glad to know from telegraphic information that the "Glory" is coming out here at last to replace the "Centurion but we most firmly believe that two other battleships of similar power and some fast cruisers ought to be despatched out here as speedily as practicable in order to make our position in the Far East secure.

Even with the addition of these two battleships to our squadron here, we shall not possess that command of the sea which it used to be our proud boast to maintain that we pos- sessed.

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