BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18825, 19 May 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

LORD JELLICOE AND LORD FRENCH. FREEMEN OF LONDON. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 9.45 p.m.) There was a crowded gathering at the Guildhall, when Lord Jellicoe and Lord French were granted the Freedom of the City and presented with swords of honour. Many distinguished personages were present. Lord French, replying to the address, said that the great lesson of the war was that indecision and vacillation were always disastrous. He considered that Germany’s cardinal mistake was her failure to seize the Channel ports. Speaking at the Mansion House luncheon after the ceremony, Lord Jellicoe said he anticipated five happy years in New Zealand, whose people he and his wife had already learned to love. Emphasising the dependence of sea communications on the British Navy and the navies of the dominions, I.ord Jellicoe uttered a warning against allowing the strength of the Empire Navy to fade away until it became certain that the anti-war measures now being proposed would be effective.

MR WATT’S MISSION. INTERVIEWS AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE. LONDON, May 17. (Received May 19, 12.50 a.m.) Mr Watt had a lengthy interview with Colonel Amcry and Colonial Office officials, lie will take up the financial portion of his mission in the City this week.