CHANGED VIEWPOINT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2700, 21 February 1916, Page 6

CHANGED VIEWPOINT

INTERVIEW WITH BONAR LAW

PROSPECTS OREATLY IMPROVED,

By Tolegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February, 20, .5,5 p.m.) . London, February 18. .-.■■■ t Mr. Bonar Law (Secretary of State for : the- Colonics), in an interview with the New York "Times" correspondent, • said: ."'lf. militarism,, according to the ■ Prussian standard, is not crushed by | ■ tho war there is nothing to prevent a l'op'otition of the present catastrophe, , and .the;, civilisatibn.'of Europe must go , down before barbarism. . All the ouL- J Pouring-of;-Hood andtreasure will be . lip'"of armaments ! ooiiflict proceeds un. < ■f- ■ diminished'afterwards. I . I'Tho directionof the war has greatly , i-: .improved.'* "We have concentrated tho i control in'fewer 'hands,""anil are linking j up'-, the' Allies in an endeavour to get | unity of control. "We must not forget | that democratic countries are always [ at a disadvantage in prosecuting a i . war. Wo were not,organised, but we i have now changed our, .viewpoint en- , - tirely, and realise that nothing-matters ( except winning tlie war. We are proud 1 of the.achievement that we have been' , able to enlist nearly, four million volun- [ teers, and' to find that six million offer- j . ed. There is no longer anxiety regard- . mg munitions. We are gaining ( strength every week." . Loyalty to Empire,;:'. The Minister paid a tribute "to the wonderful help rendered by. the. Domin- ] ions ; and-said: "Remember, the Dominions are under no obligation to send ' a single man. We hear much about the loyalty of the Dominions' to, the , Mother Country, but it is not a ques- i tion of the 'loyalty of Canada to Eng-, ! ' " laiid or England to Canada, but' a ques- I tion of common loyalty to the Empire and faith in the oause for which we are i all fighting. If it were a dispute, say; I between Canada and Britain, Canadian i 7;:',7'oyalty;.iyould bo.'on-.the side, of- Canada. ' i "The- Overseas Dominions had taken a i big- view ofAhe'Var, the response being <■ magnificent.'' Canada is preparing to i place half a million men >in the. field, s . Australia is contributing ten per cent. ■ - of her population. New. Zealand is doing .'.'.]' even more;,the| west Indies and New-. foundlarid are. also sending fine cony- tingents.* Indeed, evory part of the 1 Empire shows splendid , examples of patriotism.- . ' ] War Finanoe. ' r. .'"There is no fear of financial posi- ' ..tion.'-" Our..r resources, ;■ though not in- , ' inexhaustible,''are wo have j • " not yet begun. to feel.'the Vstrain. We ; can continue longer than our enemies by drawing upon , our stored-up wealth and productive resources, without straining our capacity to pay or reach- • ing the limit of self-sacrifice. "Another disadvantage of a demo- i cracy in case of war lies iu the neces- i ■sity of facing the freedom of opinion . which persists. The Government is at- ' tacked, and is unable to make a defence ■ without revealing secrets. The people : of Germany are without the means of making their opiniono felt or theii 'grievances known. They are under an • iron heel, and must grin and bear it, but in England criticism is indulged in which would be impossible in any other country involved in war." I Economic Entente, Asked if he contemplated an economic entente among the-Allies after the war, lie said, "I do. It will not be easy, but the war will have changed our relations, and I believo will havo settled our fiscal controversy. Germany secured a; hold of Western Russia by com. mercial penetration; that control must in future be in other hands, chiefly French and English. Germany will be , driven" out of many markets. We can never again compete with her on equal, terms. ' Tho Allies will probably enter ' an economic entente, but the British Empire'will rely more on her own resources. Already the munition works have revised British engineering, and induced a complete remodelling of fac, lories, stimulated invention,'forced .reforms, and showed what the nation can do when-strung .to the. highest pitch of energy. , In a word, wo have proved -our power of adaptability." j Relations With America. . Tlie interviewer asked: "Do you think Tho war will change the relations of Britain and America?" '•••■ Mr. Bonar Law said: "Change might . possibly come if a leaguo of peace is lormetl to prevent a repetition of.'the present calamity.' If so, America will naturally be an important member of •that league. ■ Rules and conventions lor the regulation of war are arranged in times of peace. When war comes, and belligerents disregard them, only powerful neutrals could attempt to maintain, their, observance., In future, unless'there" are serious limitations to arinamenrts, there will be no force strong enough to. see that international oonventious are observed or that tho repetition of the present horrors are made impossible."; THE SIGN OF THE PIG VON BISSING ENRAGED By Telegraph—Press AssociafionV-Co'pyriKlit ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) Brussels, February 18. ' General von Bissing (German Governor of Belgium) is enraged and is offering large rewards for information regarding the culprits who placarded the pig market with,, the sign "The Herman Market." VALI OF SMYRNA THREAT OF ASSASSINATION By Telegraph—Press ABfw.in.tion—Oopyight ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, February 18. The "Daily News" correspondent at Rome states that Rachmil Bey, Vali of Smyrna, was warned that tho Young Turks had plotted his assassination. He escaped on .an allied warship, and has arrived at Athens. [A previous message stated: Tho Vali of Smyrna took refuge on a British warship. He iled was accused of alleviating the hardships of , Entente subjects.] STEAMER BLOWN UP AT SEA ONLY- TOO PERSONS SAVED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February 18. Tho British steamer Cedarwood (654 tons), from Middlesborough, with a cargo of cast iron, was blown ap at sea. All the crew except two were drowned.