§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government, in framing the Navy Estimates for 1894, to ask for a Vote for the construction of a dock at Gibraltar? He desired to call the serious attention of the House to the present position of this matter, which had been brought before Parliament in both Houses from time to time during the last five or six years. Successive Governments had, when addressed on the subject, invariably approved of the project. He had the support of distinguished officers in the Navy, including the present and four ex-Commanders-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, who all agreed that the construction of the dock was of the greatest importance. One of those officers, having visited the Rock, had withdrawn his former opinion that the dock would not be defensible, and believed that it would be perfectly capable of defence from the sea. He could not understand the reason of this long delay. In answer to a similar question in the early part of the Session, he was told it was impossible to enter upon so large an outlay at that period of the Session when the Estimates were already framed. For that reason he now asked in ample time whether the noble Lord at the head of the Admiralty intended to place upon the Estimates a Vote for the construction of a dock at Gibraltar, the need for which increased with every year. No less than five years would be required for its completion, and the necessity for it had been greatly increased by recent events. If the result of what was passing in the other House should be to lead Her Majesty's Government to make considerable additions to the Navy, that necessity would be still greater. France was constructing important naval works at Tunis, and was making efforts in other directions; and every moment of delay was a matter of importance. The French Government 1742 were connecting the docks at Brest with the Mediterranean, so that in the event of hostile operations France would not only have the advantage of the magnificent docks she possessed in the Mediterranean, Marseilles, Toulon, Caserta, and Ajaccio, but would, in the event of a reverse there, be able to convey her fleet up to Brest entirely beyond the reach of hostile forces. As to expense, the cost of a dock at Gibraltar would not be more than about one-third of the price of a large ironclad. He hoped the noble Earl would assure the House that some step would be taken in the matter, and that the construction of a dock, which all who had the interests of the Navy at heart, would be no longer delayed.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Earl SPENCER)My Lords, I fully share the views of the noble and gallant Viscount as to the importance of the subject he has brought before your Lordships. On a former occasion I made some remarks in answer to a somewhat similar question addressed to me last Session. I certainly did not speak unfavourably as to the necessity of having a dock at Gibraltar, and I have not altered my opinion since that time. I am afraid, however, that I cannot give a positive answer to the question put to me. This is the time of year when the various Government Departments are considering their Estimates, and the Admiralty is no exception to this rule. The question of the dock at Gibraltar is now being considered, but, until the Estimates are finally settled, it would be improper for me to declare what the intentions of the Government are on the subject. It is manifestly extremely inconvenient to describe piecemeal what the Estimates will contain, and my only answer, therefore, is that the question of the dock at Gibraltar is being considered as the Estimates are now being placed before the Government.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI cannot let this occasion pass without a word in support of the views of the noble Viscount. The importance of Gibraltar is enormous to the naval interests of Great Britain, and has been rapidly growing in consequence of the events of the past few years. The full and safe possession of Gibraltar, a possession which shall be free alike from any danger which may threaten it by land, 1743 and any danger which may threaten it by torpedoes from the opposite coasts—the possession of Gibraltar in the true and full sense is absolutely necessary for the junction and co-operation of the Channel and Mediterranean Fleets, and especially when, as I hope, the Channel Fleet will assume larger proportions than at present. If that be the case, if it be necessary to make the fleets act together when you wish, and that Gibraltar should be in our full and safe possession in ordinary times, it is still more necessary now, because we must remember that a moral junction has taken place between the Cronstadt and the Toulon Fleets. With these circumstances in our view, which naturally we do not dilate much upon, but the importance of which is not the less present to the minds of all who take an interest in the present position of the maritime affairs of this country, I feel that the restoration of Gibraltar to that position which it occupied in past times is one of the most important subjects which could occupy our attention.
§ [The subject then dropped.]