MR. FISHER AND MR. STEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 41, 10 August 1911, Page 5

MR. FISHER AND MR. STEAD.

■ME. STEAD AFFIRMS TRUTH OF INTERVIEW. By Oablo—Press Association—Copyright. Received 10, 1.15 a.m. London, August 9. Mr, W. T. Stead has returned from his visit to the Balkans, and affirms the absolute accuracy of the Fisher interview. His exhibited his letter book showing that the printer's proofs of the interview were sent to Mr. Fisher on July 1. Mr. Fislier did not return them, and it was assumed that silence gave consent to publication. "When Mr. Fisher said, as I perfectly well remember he did in so many words," continued Mr. Stead, "that though he did not contemplate any such event, Australia might haul down the flag and start on her own rather than be involved in an unjust war, he but uttered the obvious truth,"

Mr. Stead cannot conceive anyone familiar with Mr. Fisher's views finding anything in the interview either novel or original. Mr. Stead made no notes. He never does when he interviews. His recollections, however, are perfectly clear of this brief conversation, and he wrote the interview at once.

Mr. Stead several times referred to Mr. Fisher as having used the phrase about hauling down the flag if it were otherwise impossible to avoid participation in a war which Australia considered unjust. Mr. Stead was led to seek the interview because of Mr. Fisher's speech at the Imperial Conference in favor of wider international conferences.