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Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1918, Page 2

B kgahding the report from London last week that the German banks in England had been closed the “Daily Mail” had the following pointed remark in one of its issues of mid-June last wherein it hit out as follows:—“As to the German banks in England there is only one thing to be said: They must be closed. Mr Ilonar Law, condemned (by the hard fate of politics, which respects no man’s honesty) to deliver the official excuse, has been wriggling painfully during the past few days. The expense of closing them, quoth he, would be too great; it would cost £970,000. When tarradiddles have to he told the Government; should get someone else to tell them. Mr Bonnr Law is transparently sincere, and when ho tries to prevaricate it is impossible to believe him. This excuse, offered in the midst of a w„, which costs seven millions a day and in which a million or two. can be lost between the Hotel Metropole, and the Nelson Column, was transparently silly. Of course it was not the true reason. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has once more wriggled in vain, and we arc now given another explanation—namely that if we close the German banks the Germans will take reprisals on French and Belgian property. Let us say once that we have no more respect- for this reason than for the other. It comes from people who think this war can be ended bv a compromise—which is impossible. The Germans have already taken all the French and Belgian pro-

peTiv tl.ey c-ulvt la, their handi ok, and if they win the war they will tgko the rest. If they do not win they will have to disgorge. This war will not end with* a bargain.” From this it will be seen that by the act of closing the banks in question there is a resolute determination in Britain that come what may, the war is to be fought, to a finish so that the Allies may impose their will upon the enemy witn both might and right upon their side.

Thk rationing in England last year was the subject of a good deal of humour among those who were prepared, to take their trials and troubles cheerfully. Incidentally there were charges 01 “hoarding food’’ among those in high places and those who were caught in the act. were brought to book quickly. In Germany the same thing is happening, only under more stringent conditions, and with an outlook loss hopeful than the English folk enjoyed. The German press has featured a local ease, and a writer in n London paper thus toll* the story for the entertainment of his readers:—Berlin’s “starvation rations’’ was the subject of a lively discussion in the law 'courts one day in early June, when a jury was called upon to decide whether a man weighing 25st and Oft. Sin. tall can live on the present food allowances in Germany. The colossus in question, a bank director whose name is suppressed by the papers was in the dock on a charge of misusing his fats card and obtaining 21b of butter by illicit methods. He pleaded that life in Berlin is wholly unsupportahle, with existing rations. The prisoner desired to call eminent medical specialists to establish this fact and to “justify,” hoarding and food smuggling. When the court, declined to admit this toll-talc evidence of tlio inadequacy of thp Hun ration system the fat banker shrieked at the judge: “Then I demand that the Imperial Chancellor himself be summoned ! Let us find out if he can get along on rations or whether he, too, is not, compelled, like the rest of us, to secure food by hook or by crook!” The judge retorted that if the banker had any proof that Count Herding was a food felon he should denounce him to the police. The Judge found the banker guilty and he was fined £3. He told the Court that pending an appeal he would certainly continue to “buy up all the food lie could lay hands on.” The newpaper foreshadows that the Supreme Court of the Empire Wjill probably have to pass final 'judgment on this particularly “weighty” ease.