Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 68, 25 February 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

«(► THE COMMONWEALTH PREMIER. i ~ ' 1 HiS VISIT TO BRITAIN. I PROGRAMME REVIEWED. IMPORTANT IMPERIAL QUESTIONS. [UnITBD PuiiHi, -A««O01ATlON.J (Received 8.55 a.rn.) London, Feruary ‘2l. Mr Hughes is due to arrive next week. His programme is as yet necessarily open, but he will busily investigate Australian questions. He will be consulted regarding double income tax. metals, wheat, shipping, immigration. and Britain’s further war needs. With a view to appreciating the vast war preparations, he will be given an opportunity to obtain inside information, and possibly, will visit the lighting front, factories, and arsenals. He will have personal interviews with Ministers and official committees. and it is hoped he will succeed in remedying the double income tax. I Sir George Bcid has made representations to Mr Lloyd George, but without result, and the position is becoming more acute owing to the-growing strain of increasing taxes. Mr Hughes will consider the possibility of erecting British smelters; although j there is a great agitation in England which is being urged to protest against the action to deal with ores, the proposals will not be accepted. An official reply has been awaiting Mr Hughes’ arrival. Mr Hughes will inquire into shipping matters and the possibility of lower freights, particularly in view of recent disclosures of shipping profits and also the Italian criticisms. The immigration problem is a difficult one owing to English closer settlement and the greater aversion of the Continental Council, especially France and Belgium, towards emigration, which has also increased competition with Canada. It is expected that when peace is in sight, a Council oi the Overseas representatives will be summoned in accordance with the official promise to consult the Dominions on the peace terms. Mr Bonar Law, in response to an inquiry by a representative of the Australian Press Association, said; “There will be nothing at present n the nature of an Imperial Conference. I will confer with Mr Hughes on various matters .and ask him his opinions. He will come in a similar capacity to Sir Robert Borden’s recent visit from Canada, and to the same extent will he admitted to our councils.” MR JABEZ BALFOUR’S DEATH. , SUDDEN END IN RAILWAY TRAIN. (Received 8.5 a.m.) London, February 24. Mr Jabez Balfour was found dead in the Fishguard express when it reached Newport, in Pembroke. MINISTERS SALARIES AND EXCHEQUER BONDS. (Received 8.5 a.m.) London, February 24. The Ministers in Monmouth, West of England, have decided to accept a quarter of their salary for five pei cent. Exchequer bonds. PEACE DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. SNOWDEN’S IMPOSSIBLE SUGGESTION. PREMIER SITS ON IT HARD. LABOR MEMBERS’ VIEWS. n NiTBD Phehb Association London, February 28. lu the House oi Commons, Mi Philip Snowden, in seconding, die Consolidated Bill, initiated a peace discussion. He asked whether it was not possible to end the war on terms and conditions which would realise the objects for which we were fighting. There was no doubt about disinterested motives prompting the people to support the war, and they did not desire an inconclusive peace. '1 liemenace of militarism must he removed, and some people believed this could he accomplished without waiting for a decisive victory, which would enable ns to dictate terms to a vanquished foe. It was impossible for the Allies to achieve a crushing victory, and it was still less possible lor the Central Powers. Even d we were able to crush Germany by force of economic exhaustion, he asked, was that the best foundation for a lasting settlement ? The Government should state more definitely the terms upon which they would consider peace. Mr C. P. Trevelyan (Labor) remarked that holTi Mr Asquith and Herr von Bet-hniann-Holhveg had lot it he known that they were ready to consider peace proposals that had been put forward by the enemy, hut neither would take the first step. GUILDHALL SENTIMENTS REITERATED. Mr Asquith said he was glad that the House had listened to the two I speeches patiently, but he would not

like it to go forth to the world that

the speakers were spokesmen of any substantial body of opinion in this country. He doubted whether either spoke for Iris own constituency, and they certainly had not spoken for tho democracy of Britain. Mr Snowden had said we had readied a condition of stalemate. It was a mater of opinion, and time would show whether or not he was right. But that estimate of the situation was not his <Mr Asquith’s). Then Mr Sno.vden said that if wo are to obtain a victory it could only lead to an inconclusive peace. He (Mr Asquith) adhered to the full terms of settlement laid down in his Guildhall speech, and not until such a peace was within sight would any of the Allies abate by one jot the prosecution of the war. (Loud cheers). Herr von Bothmann-Holl-weg appeared to have said that he would welcome approaches from other quarters, and then had told his fellow deputies that Germany had not shown herself the enemy of small nations. “SHAMELESS AUDACITY.” Mr Asonith continued: Germany, who annihilated and devastated Belgium ! Germany, who had done her best to annihiliate and devastate Serbia. Montenegro, and Poland! Such a statement as that of the German Chancellor, under such conditions, was one of colossal and shameless audacity. He was disposed to attach importance to Herr von BethmannHollweg’s imaginary inclinations for peace if they were nut forward in pioper language and sustained hv arguments not so transparently hpvocritical. The other evidence of a desire for peace was in the attitude of the German Socialists, who were entitled to respect and svmpathv. hut these did not amount to much when it was a case of voting against war credits. He had been asked to state tho forms for pence, and he repented his nth of November declaration that “he the journey long or sh nv t. we will not sheath the sword until we have secured to the smaller European States their character of independence, and Europe and the world at large a final emancipation from a reign of foice. We could not do more than convince our enemies that not until' peace based on these foundations was within sight and attainable, that not until then should we or our Allies abate one jot of the prosecution of the war. (Prolonged applause.) LOYALTY OF LABOR. Mr S. Walsh (Labor) denied that Mr Snowden had expressed the opinion of organised Labor. He could not understand what had animated Messrs Snowden and Trevelyan, and declared that the aggressors should make the first proposals for peace. Sir W. P. Byles believed that Germany would listen to terms of peace, because she knew that oui militaij superiority was increasing. Negotiations were more likely to end the war than bloodshed and carnage. Hon. A. Murray (Labor) remarked on the evil effects that speeches like Mr Snowden’s would have in encouraging the enemy. Such speeches would be circulated in the trenches. Mr 11. L Outhwaite thought it would be better to negotiate Germany out of Belgium than to blow tier out, as in the latter case Belgium would be totally destroyed. Mr Stanton (Labor) said he had listened to the peace speeches with pain and anxiety. His views, thank God, were entirely different, and he regretted that men could say such things in tho House, and worse, to the workers. He thought such people ought to be muzzled during the war. Ninety-five per cent, of the workers were loyal to the Government.