Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 86, 17 March 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

AFTER-DINNER £Pt TCHES.

NATIONAL SMPERIAL OfICANIS- ! ATION. I THE GANGER OF GERMAN TRADE I ECONOMIC REVOLUTION NECEti- | SARY. (Received 8.3 U a.m.) .[UjUTIiD P'tKHS -ASSOCIATION.] London, March 16. Mr Hughes, at a dinner given in his honor by the Chamber of Commerce, declared: The cutting out of the cancer of German trade is no task for a weakling. Only by the most supreme effort can we take advantage of the tremendous opportunity. Many wish England to win, but they do not wish so much to be prepared to regard everything else not only life,but wealth and business as dross. But that is the only spirit' whereby victory can be won. The policy of leaving the broad principles of this great question until after the war is a phantom to land us in destruction. What is suggested is a economic revolution, but we must face and settle the question. The British policy of "laissez faire" is no more suited to the present circumstances than the savage's hlowpipe is fitted to face a Nordenfeldt. The change involved is more a fiscal change, but it involved a self-contained Empire. Since the outbreak of war, owing' to the Navy, Ave had time to make good the almost criminal neglect of the past. If Britain had listened to Lord Roberts and had been as ready on land as on sea,- in all probability the peace of the world would never have been brokon. The Hon. Mr Samuel, replying to (he toast of "The Imperial Ministry," said the Government had unshakeable confidence in the ultimate result of the war. They felt' with confidence that the Dominions would rally round the Flag, and that confidence had been fully justified. There was a widespread feeling that* after the war they would be unable to enter again into friendly trade relations with their enemies. . Before Parlia*menti undertakes the remodelling of the trade relations,a great number of difficult problems would require which wrtsriow being given. They would have to consider not* only commercial, but constitutional .questions.) He thought that, the present 'constitution of i the' Empire; could not be the final form. For himself he would say that the Mother Country was very ready to admit, the Dominions to share in, the decisions as regards policy as soon as the Dominions were ready. It impossible that we would be ahle to create a true organic union of the Empire without detriment to the freedom of each of its parts.

PRESS COMMENT

The Times- says that Mr Hughes' speech had all the qualities of true statesmanship, and suggests that the Government ask him,.ta.go,tq the Paris conference. Though the people of Canada, New; Zealand, and, South Africa might think this 'invidious, they are not represented. " , -,

'The Daily Chronicle, in a leader, describes the speech as a strong and almost missionary plea for national Imperial organisation and a fundamental change m the current ideas of Government, as applied to economical and national matters. His natural unfamiliarity with internal British politics will tend to make the application ->f his theory less striking than the -lieorv itself.

The Evening Standard, in an amusing leader headed "Samson and the Philistines," warns Mr Hughes not to lose his precious quality of virility, and says: Civilisation has advanced so far that it does not kill dangerous statesmen, but dines them and dazzles them like fair women instead, but Mr Hughes knows ( as Mr Asquith does nat, that a gigantic, dumping scheme is being elaborated to enable Germany to recover her lost market. The social engines are already mobilised .igainst him, and we hope he will not ')(> perturbed by the seductions of Mr Harcourt. The Daily Chronicle's Melbourne •orrespondent cables that the speeches )f the. Coalition Ministers, which have ieen published in Australia conveying in intention to consider a scheme for loser political union between Austra'ia and the Motherland, has caused j ilarm in political circles lest Mr 1 Tughes encourage it. Mr Hughes delined to comment on the matter. IN DEFENCE OF NATIONAL INDUSTRY. ~ICHT AGAINST ALIEN SWEATED LABOR (Received 10.55 a.m.) London, March 16. Messrs Duncan, * Hodge, O'Grady, Stanton, Walsh, Wilkie (members oi 'he House of Commons') and Messrs 1 G. Wills and Seddon announce he formation of a British Workers' National League, with the object oi lefending national industry against the products of sweated labor by our present enemies.

ACTION BY THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT. REQUISITIONING OF GERMAN SHIPS, (Received 11.20 a.m.) London, March 16. An Exchange message to the Telegraph says: It is stated in diplomatic circles that the Brazilian eminent will be compelled owing to tile shortage of transports to requisition the interned German ships. Brazilian financial circles point out that Germany, requisitioned seven millions worth of Brazilian coffee in Hamburg, and hitherto has refused reparation.