According to a tiding dated London 25 March said Prime Minister Asquith in the parliament that he received the confidential statement on 10 March from Germany that this country did not intended to speed up the fleet programme and so the Germany navy wouldn’t have 13 so-called dreadnoughts before the end of 1912. When the intelligence acquired of the British Admiralty were compared with this statement was it clear that the statement was not dealing with cruisers and battleships. However the speech of minister Tirpitz (2) on 16 March made clear that the statement was also applying to the cruisers. The fact that the contracts for two ships for the budget year 1909/1910 in an earlier stadium were promised to some firms didn’t effect the value of the earlier statement dealing with the new building. Asquith wanted to wait first for the discussion caused by the vote of censure by the opposition on 29 March before saying more about this issue.
Notes
1. Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (12 September 1852-15 February 1928), Prime Minister in 1908-1916. Liberal politician.
2. Alfred von Tirpitz (19 March 1849 (Kustrin-6 March 1930 Ebenhausen), grand admiral and between 6 June 1897 (active) and 5 March 1916 secretary of state and in fact the founder of the German Imperial Navy.
Notes
1. Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (12 September 1852-15 February 1928), Prime Minister in 1908-1916. Liberal politician.
2. Alfred von Tirpitz (19 March 1849 (Kustrin-6 March 1930 Ebenhausen), grand admiral and between 6 June 1897 (active) and 5 March 1916 secretary of state and in fact the founder of the German Imperial Navy.
