the latter takes the field. This is the true solution of the Imperial Problem, and until this solution is accepted by the democracy of this country, all our talk about preparing for war is but as the sounding brass and the tinkling cymbal.

ROBERTS, F.M.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Primary purpose of the volume-Nature of evidence used

in its compilation-Localities visited-Connection be-

tween commerce and strategy-Interdependent rela-

tions between a war navy and a mercantile marine-

Nature of the questions arising out of this connection

-Relations between Great Britain and her Colonies in

regard to trade and defence-Wide area covered by

the inquiry undertaken

CHAPTER II

THE FRONT-DOOR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Strategical importance of Gibraltar-Locks the door into

the Mediterranean Separates Brest from Toulon,

and Cadiz from Cartagena-Past services rendered by

the Rock in time of war-Great Britain's trade in-

terests in the Mediterranean-Shortest sea route to

the East-Naval control of the Mediterranean vital to

the sea power of the Empire-Admiralty dispositions

for holding this sea-way-Four fleets in commission-

Bases from which these fleets operate-Projected naval

base at Rosyth-the North Sea a mare clausum-Security

obtained by existing Admiralty dispositions-Great

Britain's naval supremacy 'unchallenged and unchal-

lengeable'

PAGES

1-5

6-15

CHAPTER III

GIBRALTAR HARBOUR

Cost of the new harbour-Its technical advantages as a
naval base-Question as to its military security-Pos
sibility of bombardment from Spanish territory-De-
velopment of artillery science since the site was

selected-Had this development been foreseen the
harbour would have been constructed on the east
side of the Rock - Recognition of the vulnerability
of the harbour and docks-The best must now be
made of an exposed site-Proposal to exchange Gib-
raltar for Ceuta-Any such proposal is outside the
limits of practical politics-Necessity for better frontier
relations between the Spanish authorities and the Gib-
raltar Government-Sordid appearance of the port of
Gibraltar-Devolution of civil administration desirable

PAGES

16-23

CHAPTER IV

THE BACK-DOOR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Local conditions of the eastern end of the Mediterranean;

different from those of the western entrance-Strate-

gical value of Malta-Its dominating position as a

central naval base-Testimony of Napoleon-Political

impasse at Malta-Cyprus-Its latent strategical im-

portance-Its possibilities as a future place d'armes-

-Benefits conferred by British rule-Commercial possi-

bilities of the island as a distributing trade centre-

The Suez Canal-International Convention of 1888-

Responsibility of the Egyptian Government for en-

forcing its provisions-Risk of the Canal being blocked

in time of war—]
-Power of British Government to pre-

vent this-Naval supremacy of Great Britain in the

Mediterranean-Advantages of the Mediterranean over

the Cape route to the East in time of war-Germany

has no naval base in the Mediterranean-'Battleships

are the best negotiators of peace' -

CHAPTER V

THE SUEZ CANAL

24-31

The Canal a French monopoly-British financial interests
in the Canal-The policy of the Canal directorate-—
Antagonistic interests of the British and French directors
-General fairness of the administration-Reductions of
dues-Question of a second canal-Reasons against
construction-Improvements effected during the past
twenty years in the water-way-Increase of traffic-
Suez Canal route to the East holds the field against all
competition-Comparison between Suez and Panama
routes-Future prospects of the Canal Company —

Lord Beaconsfield's remarkable foresight-Success of
the undertaking wholly due to the genius of M. de
Lesseps, and to the enterprise of the French people

PAGES

32-38

CHAPTER VI

ADEN: THE SENTINEL OF THE RED SEA

Aden, the first acquisition to the Empire in Queen Victoria's

reign-Description of the locality-Aden, a maiden

fortress-Prestige which its possession confers on Great

Britain-Its advantages as a coaling-station; as a com-

mercial emporium; as a cable centre-Defects of its

Government-Want of a considered policy of expansion

-Proposed transfer from the Government of Bombay

to the Colonial Office-Aden hinterland-Site for a

sanatorium near Dthala-Construction of a light rail-

way into the interior-Importance of Aden as a link

in the chain of Imperial defence

CHAPTER VII

THE RED SEA AND THE PERSIAN GULF

39-48

European Powers interested in the Red Sea littoral-

History of Italian intrusion-Defeat of the Italians by

Menelik-Her African possessions a useless incubus to

Italy-Different position of France-Necessity for a

French coaling-station half-way to Saigon-Energy of

the French at Djibuti-French railway to Adis Ababa

-Example set England by France-Turkish rule in

Arabia - The revolt in Yemen Damascus-Mecca

railway-German help given the Sultan for construc-

tion of this railway-Persian Gulf-Decline of British

trade with Persia-The Customs tariff of 1903-Russian

influence in Persia-Danger to British interests in the

Gulf-German railway to Koweyt-Projected Russian

railway to Bunder Abbás-Captain Mahan's warning—

'Hands off!'

49-58

CHAPTER VIII

CEYLON: THE MODEL CROWN COLONY

Circumstances of its acquisition by Great Britain-Seizure
of Trincomalee by Admiral Hughes in 1782-Ceylon
constituted a Crown Colony in 1801-Final subjugation
of whole island in 1816-Decline of Trincomalee as a

с

port of call-Rise of Colombo-Abandonment of Trin-

comalee as a naval base-Causes for this-Colombo

Harbour Prosperity of the colony-Contentment of

native population-Wise policy of Mr. Chamberlain

when Colonial Secretary -

CHAPTER IX

SINGAPORE: THE GATEWAY OF THE PACIFIC

PAGES

59-68

Singapore, the strategical rendezvous for the East Indian,

China, and Australian squadrons-Its unique geogra-

phical position-Penang, the first seat of British

Government in the Malay Peninsula - Transfer of

the Government to Singapore in 1857-Federation of

Malay States under British protection in 1895—Occu-

pation of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819-

Conquest of Java in 1811-Its retrocession to Holland

in 1815-Rapid growth of Singapore-Government of

the Straits Settlements-Virtues and vices of the Crown

Colony system-Expropriation of the Tanjong Pagar

Dock Company-Bad bargain made by the Straits

Settlements Government-Governorship of Sir Andrew

Clarke in 1873-1875 Governorship of Sir Frank

Swettenham-His masterly administration

CHAPTER X

HONG-KONG: THE BIGGEST PORT IN THE WORLD

69-79

Strategical position of Hong-Kong-Conquest of Manila by
Great Britain in 1782-Retrocession to Spain after the
Seven Years' War Acquisition of the Philippine
Islands by the United States Government in 1898-
Dominating situation of Manila in the China Sea-
Removal of British battleships from the China Squadron
-Criticism of this step-Bad British title-deeds to the
possession of Hong-Kong-Opium War of 1840-A
dark chapter in British history-Demoralizing effect
of the war on China-Mr. Morley's opinion on the
question of the Indian opium traffic - Hong-Kong
Harbour-Docks and works-' New Territory' north of
Kowloon acquired in 1898-Construction of Hong-
Kong-Canton railway-Contentment of Chinese popu-
lation of Hong-Kong-Characteristics of the Chinese

Greater missionary effort required Too few
labourers-Missionary work neutralized by the policy
of the British Government on the opium question—
Power of Great Britain to suppress oversea importation