Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 64, 21 February 1916, Page 3

Great Britain

THE MICHT OF BRITAIN. INTERVIEW WITH MR BONAR LAW, DISADVANTAGES OF DEMOCRACY United Press Association. London, February 18. Mr Bonar Law, in an interview with a New York Times correspondent, said that if militarism, according to the Prussian standard was not crushed by the war, nothing would prevent a repetition of the present catastrophe, and civilisation in Europe would go down before barbarism. All the outpouring of blood and treasure would be in vain if the piling up of armaments which preceded the conflict proceeds nndiminished afterwards. “The direction of the war has great- 1 ly improved. We have concentrated its control into fewer hands, and by linking up with the Allies we endeavor ' to get unity of control. We must not j forget that democratic countries are, 1 always at a disadvantage in prosecuting a war. We were not organised,! but we have now changed our view-,® point and entirely realise that noth-] 1 ing matters except the winning of the j war. It is a proud achievement to be able to enlist nearly four million 1 volunteers, and to find that six million men offered. There is no longer any anxiety regarding munitions, and we are gaining strength every week.” THE EMPIRE’S OFFERINGS. The Minister paid tribute to the wonderful help rendered by the Dominions. He said: “Remember, the Dominions were under no obligations to send a single man. We hear much about the loyalty of the Dominions to the Mother Country, but it is not. a question of loyalty by Canada to Eng- , land or England to Canada, but a question of common loyalty to the Empire and faith in the cause for which we are all fighting. If it were a dispute, say, between Canada and Britain, Canadian loyalty would be on the side of Canada. The Overseas Dominions have taken a big view of the war, their response being magnificent. Canada is preparing to place half a million men in the field ; Australia is contributing ten per cent, of her population, and New . Zealand even more. The West Indies and Newfoundland have also sent fine contingents; indeed, every part of the Empire lias given splendid examples of patriotism. STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION. “1 have no fear of our financial position. Our resources, though notj inexhaustible, are so great that ue have not yet begun to feel the strain. We can continue longer than our ene-. mies in drawing upon our stored-up) wealth and productive resources with-' out straining our .capacity to pay or , reaching the limit of self-sacrifice. CRITICISM. “Another disadvantage of democracy in the case of war lies in the necessity of facing the freedom of opinion which persists. The Government is attacked, but is unable to make a defence without revealing secrets. People in Germany were without the means ol making opinions felt and their grievances known. They are under the iron heel and must grin and bear it, ' but in England criticism is indulged J iu in a way which would be impossible < in any other country that was involvod iu war.” i \N ECONOMIC ENTENTE PROPable. ( Asked if it were contemplated that ( there should bo an economic Entente anion* the Allies after the war, Mr Bonar haw said; “I do. It will not be easv hut the war will have changed relations, and I believe will have settled the fisca controversy. Germany secured a hold of Western Russia by commercial penetration, and that control must in future he iu other hands, , chiefly French and English. Germany will be driven out of many markets, and we will never again compote v.'itli her on unequal terms. The Allies prohal.lv enter into an economic Entente, and the British Empire tu rely more on her own losouues. , ready the munition works have been revised The British engineering trade has been induced to complete the remodelhng of factories, and stimulated invention has forced reforms Ins Shows what the nation can do when it was strung to tin- highest pitch Thus energy, in a word, has proved our power of adaptability.” RELATIONS WITH NEUTRALS. The interviewer asked: “Do you . think the war will change relations i between Britain and America?” Mr Bonar Law: “A change might

{ possibly come if a League of Peace is ; formed to prevent calamity. If so. America will naturally be an important member of that League. The rules and conventions for the regulation of war are arranged in times of peace. When war comes, and belligerents disregard these rules, only powerful neutrals could attempt to maintain their observance. In future, unless there are serious limitations to armaments, there will be no force strong enough to see that the International conveni tions are observed, or that a repetition of present horrors is made impossible.” A UNITED IRELAND. REDMOND’S STIRRING MANIFESTO. London, February 19. Mr John Redmond, in a manifesto to the Irish people, declared that the achievements of the huge Irish army , have covered Ireland with glory hefoie the world. “North and south have vied with each other in springing to arms, and, j please God, the sacrifices made on the 1 battlefield will form the safest bond j for a united Irish nation. One dutyremains to be fulfilled. M e must stand by and maintain the Irish army lat the front. We will not tolerate the 1 idea that Irish regiments shall be reinI forced except by Irish soldiers. Ibe ! Irishmen in the trendies appeal to the farmers and laborers and artisans m Ireland not to desert them.” THE COST OF THE WAR. A HUGE CREDIT VOTE. London, February 18. The Daily Telegraph states that Mr 1 Asquith on Monday will ask lor the record war credit of 420 millions, which will meet requirements to the ' end of May. This brings the total j war vote to £2,082,090,000. FIRST GROUP OF DERBY ISIS. CALLED UP NEXT WEEK. (Received 8.5 a m.) London, February 20. The first group of Derbyists will be called up next week. DELAYING MUNITIONS OUTPUT. LABOR SECRETARY SUMMONED. j (Received 8.5 a.vn.) London, February 20. Thomas Rees. London, secretary ot the Associated Engineers, was sumi moned for delaying the output of 1 munitions in a controlled c aecor,v m j Abbey wood, by inducing the nightshift since the 7th to cease work for I higher pay on the ground that the I factory was in London, instead of resorting to arbitration. The ease was adjourned for a fortnight. DEFENCE OF THE REALM ACT. AUTHORITIES COMMANDEER LABOR. DISSASTISFIED FARMERS'. (Received 9.5 a.m.) London, February 20. Mr Lloyd George used the powers of the Defence of the 'Realm Act and ordered work at New London Comity Hall to cease as the labor was required to build munition factories. During the sitting of the tribunal at Kirk by Stephen in Westmoreland, many of the fanners threatened to sell their stock and abandon their farms if the workmen were conscripted. The tribunal held that the bulk of the claimants necessary for agriculture should be exempted.