Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 291, 7 December 1914, Page 5

Great Britain

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. PRE-WAR "CONVERSATIONS." United Pbesb Association. London, December 5. Eeuter's Rome correspondent states that documents exist, showing that early in July, when ,after the Serajevo murder, Austro-Servian relations were strained, Signor San Guiliaho (Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs) urged Austria for moderation to avoid Russian intervention in Servia's favor. Austria replied that it was not believed that Russia would be sum- i ciently prepared, after the Japanese war, to undertake military action on , behalf of Servia. Austria cited Rus- . sia's attitude throughout the London conference after the Balkan war, when she was unable to make her supremacy in the Balkans felt. Signor San Guiliano answered that, i according to his information, the situation had changed, and that Russia woidd not tolerate any attempt to limit Servia's independence, sovereignty, or diminution of territory. . Austria retorted that, in the event , of Russia's intervention, she would . be answered by Germany's participa- , tion in the war. Then Signor San Guiliano pointed i out the gravity of this plan, as Ger- ( many's action would inevitably mean ( Britain's intervention. : Botli Vienna and Berlin replied that they were convinced that at the last . moment Britain would not assume the risk of undertaking a European war. Signor San Guiliano rejoined that such a view was erroneous, having sufficient foundation for his opinion that the exact opposite woiild occur, but his warning was in vain. Events were precipitated by the ultimatum being sent fo Servia, without Italy being "nnsulted or notified.

ABOUT NEW ZEALANDERS.

London, December 5. The New Zealand War Contingent Fund of £6OOO is being spent in the purchase of artistic souvenir Christmas cards addressed individually to the troops in Egypt. Twelve bags of New Zealand letters have been forwarded to Egypt. Amusement was caused among Australasians in London at the suppression of news of the arrival of the troops in Egypt. Anxious relatives beseiged the officials, who had been instructed to remain dumb. They protested their ignorance. Suddenly the wife of an officer in an outburst, informed everybody tbat her husband had cabled her he had disembarked in Egypt. The Pall Mall Gazette says the Commonwealth has already reached a special glory of its own in the war, yet they were only beginning. Tn both the New Zealanders as well as tbe Australians, the Motherland is proudly confident and proudly grateful. The newspapers are publishing interesting accounts of the remarkable fitness of a detachment of New Zealanders on Salisbury Plain. The army authorities are highly gratified and Ithe men are satisfied with their treatment and surroundings. j The late Major Richardson, of the New Zealand staff corps who died from wounds, was mentioned in Genera] Paris' despatches.

SUPPRESSING NEWS. London, November 5. The Times, in a leader, urges the Government to advise its citizens clearly of their conduct in the event of, invasion, although invasion is improbable. It mentions a piece of news, of which the whole world outside Britain was acquainted, had been published in American and German newspapers, but was still concealed by the Government. Exellent reasons for suppression no longer obtained. The Government placed the press of this country in an exceedingly difficult position. "We fear the Government has ceased to understand the necessity of keeping in touch with the British public." Copies of the Irish Worker at Dublin were seized by the police, who also seized the printing plant and all documents on the premises.

TRADINC WITH THE ENEMY.

London, November 5

In the Chancery Division the Zinc Corporation sought a decision as to whether the contract to sell their whole output to the German firm of Aaron Hirsch and Son until 1919, was voided by the Avar or merely suspended. Justice Sargent held the case covered by the clause suspending a contract during the continuance of events beyond the control of the vendors or buyers, which prevented and delayed the carrying out of the agreement, and granted an injunction restraining the directors from acting on the assumption that the contract was terminated. He added that undoubtedly the case was going to. the highest tribunal.

LOYAL INDIANS. A WORD OF WARNING. London, November 4. Some wounded Indians lost their puggarees en route to England. Learning of this, Queen Alexandra despatched 400 yards of muslin to the Indians, who were delighted, and instead of making puggarees they carefully parcelled out the treasure to carry home. Lord Selborne, in a speech, said we must not underrate the enormous powers and unity of the Germans, which at present are holding their own against the combined power of Russia, France and England. GERMAN MOBILITY. A STEP TO CHECK IT.

Times and Sydney Sun Sebvioeb. (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 6. The Bourse Gazette, Petrograd, predicts a concerted movement shortly "by the Allies both in the East and the West for the purpose of stopping Germany shifting troops between the frontiers. GENERAL. United Peess Association. London, December 5. The Government has prohibited the export of tinned meats and tin plates to Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands, also tanning extracts for all destinations. The English, French, and Russian police have discovered one factor in the German espionage—press seals for printing plates, for a wholesale system of forged passports by German agents. It is officially denied that Lord Kitchener has been in France this week. A committee, consisting of three members of the Committee of Imperial Defence, with Lord Esher as chairman, has been appointed to cooperate with the heads of the various Treasury departments in sanctioning expenditure on all army and navy contracts arising out of the war. This is the first result of the recent demand in the House of Commons for full inquiry into prevalent allegations of contract scandals. In consideration of the receipt of eight millions of Russian gold, the Bank of England discounts under Government guarantee a further twelve millions of Russian Treasury ttills, making a total of twenty millions.