IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 30 March 1917, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

THE WAR CABINET. INTERESTING, [INFORMATION. LONDON, March 28. In the House of Commons, Mr. Rountree asked: Is the Imperial War Cabinet an executive body or only consultive, like the Imperial War Conference? Mr. Bonar Law: The Imperial War Cabinet is both executive and consultative. Its functions are regulated by the nature of the subject under discussion. Mr. Morrell: If it is executive, what is its relation to the War Cabinet of five, Is it superior or subordinate? Mr. Bonar Law: It is difficult, and not very desirable, to define relations which are entirely friendly. Mr. Bonar Law informed Mr. Rountree that the Imperial War Cabinet was both executive and consultative. Mr. Asquith, in moving that legislation be introduced on the lines of the Electoral Reform Conference report, said an election on the present register would be an absurdity owing to the number of naval and military forces and the population movements due to war work. Electoral reform raised many contentious questions, but the Conference had shown remarkable agreement. Thirty-four propositions out of 37 which had aroused embittered controversy during a whole generation, had been adopted unanimously by the commissioners. The House of Commons, by 341 to 62, accepted Mr. Asquith's motion. Mr. Bonar Law announced that the Government is introducing a Bill giv e effect to the Speaker's conference.

DELEGATES ENTERTAINED AT BUCKINGHAM, STATEMENTS B'Y N.Z. REPRESENTATIVES. LONDON, March 29. The Empire Council Cabinet was entertained by their Majesties at Buckingham Palace. Mr. Massey states that the Conference is discussing the immediate conduct of the war, questions of food and shipping, and laying the foundations of a great conference after the war on post-war problems, including the administration of German colonies, arrc Imperial trade. Ireland has not been mentioned, and he hopes it will not be referred to the Dominions, be cause it would drag th e Irish question into Dominion politics. It would also mean a lengthy investigatory visit tc Ireland. Sir Joseph Ward states that the m/> jbrity of the delegates favour Domin ion arbitration in regard to Irelan but it is not likely to be discussed the Conference until the end of Apr!:.

GERMAN DEVILRY. SHOCKING DESECRATION OF FRENCH CEMETERIES. LONDON, March 28. ' A French headquarters correspondent says: The full atroeiousness of the conduct of the Germans is now appearing They not only /broke open vaults in churchyards and used them as niachiuegun shields, but they systematically pillaged graves for the zinc and lead linings of coffins also possible ornaments and jewels. Cemeteries were torn up, coffins broken open and the remains of the dead scattered, rubbish and filth being thrown into the graves. The Germans show an almost exaggerated rejspect for their own dead. Their, trim gaudy graves abound in pompous epitaphs of fallen German heroes, and they have characteristically incribed tombstones stolen fiioin neighbouring French cemeteries. THE WRITING ON THE WALL. DEMOCRATISING GERMANY. Received 11.5. AMSTERDAM, March 2s. The Socialists in the Reichstag have put forward a series of demands including: The Reichstag shall control the making and breaking ,off oi alliances, making peace or war, the Chancellor to be dismissed if the Reichstag demands it, proportional representation, votes for all men ana women at Parliamentary elections, and the abolition of the Upper House.

THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN. ' 2104 PRISONERS TAKEN. . Received 11.30. _ LONDON, March 29. ’ A Fneneh Macedonian communique states:—-After a. violent artillery precaution the enemy attacked the trenches We captured on the 26th March at Cuvenstend, our. barrage stopped them. Pnisoners c:lp.ful'ed in the recent opqrzitions in‘ the Monustir region number 2104. - . ‘