MR. FORD'S PEACE EXCURSION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 30 November 1915, Page 7

MR. FORD'S PEACE EXCURSION

A SHIPLOAD OF PACIFICISTS AND FREE-TRIPPERS Bj Mesraoli—Press Association—Copyright (Kec. November 29, 9.50 p.m.) New York, November 29. Mr. Henry Ford is spending plenty of money in connection with his peace mission, dashing about the country in special trains, interviewing influential people, and inviting pacifists to 6ail for Christiania. Mr. Ford's teams will finally reach The Hague and frame terms of peace, based on justice for all, regardless of the military situation.

So far the invitations chieflv accepted are for a free trip for those clesirous of health, rest, and recreation. It is understood that President Wilson ' is likely to prevent the project being cartied out.

Mr. Henry Ford, of the Ford Motor Company, in conjunction with other pacifists, is organising a peace mission to Europe on a large scale." He has chartered the steamer Oscar 11, which is to be refitted luxuriously, and will sail on December 4. A manifesto has been issued, declaring: "The time has coin© to cease firing. We are going to try to get the boys out of the trenches, to be back home on Christmas Day." Mr. Ford has not disclosed his plans with regard to the proposal to call a neutral conference.

Henry Ford's wild peace ideas provoked a good deal of caustic comment in tlie United States. It is only fair to state, however, that his antagonism to the Allies' War Loan, which was prompted apparently solely by his ardent desire for peace, was of short duration. According to a New York messaga dated October 21, Ford had that day authorised his manager in Canada to "toll the people of Canada" that "he is with them heart and. soul," and to assure them that he has expressed tho "strongest pro-Ally sentiments to his friends." Ho went, further, and promised. to take £200,000 of bonds in any war loan which the Canadian Government might issue. ■ •

"IMPUDENT AND IMPERTINENT." SIR. MASSEY'S" OPINION OF THB PEACE PICNIC. The excursion to Europe that is being organised by American. pacifists finds no favour with the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Right Hon. W. F.. Massey). ; _ "My own opinion is that the visit of the American delegates to Europe in connection with the proposed peace negotiations will not have the slightest' effect," said Mr. Massey. : "When an.; - AngloFrench Commission visited tlio : • United States some little time ago to float the loan for the Allies, Mr. Henry Ford, according to the newspapers; was bitterly hostile. While I admit that I have a. friendly feeling for that great.section of the American people which'js not proGerman, I cannot help thinking that this visit of Ford and ms friends, and their proposals, taking them together, are both impudent ana impertinent. I for one hop© there will be no peace until the terms are dictated by the Allies, and until the Gennan armies are" driven baoS on to German soil. The Allies have a duty to their brave soldiers who have fallen' in the war. It is to see that tho lives which have been lost shall not have been thrown away, and that is what peace would mean under existing circumstances." v