UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1915, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

THE CRANKS' PICNIC. A NASTY BLOW. Washington, Dec. 2; Mr. Lansing refused to give passports to Henry Ford's peace party, except to the neutral countries of Europe.

NEW ZEALAND IRISHMEN. ARRIVE AT 'FRISCO. San Francisco. Dee. 2. A party of seventy Irishmen arrived from New Zealand. They admitted that they left New Zealand because they were afraid of conscription, P. T. Sullivan said that in order to escape the New Zealand officials they were going to England to enlist, while they really intended to make their homes in California. N SILLY FORD. WARNED THAT HE MAY BE SHOT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Deo, 3, s.fi p.m. London, Dec. 2. '--Mr. Ford has published, with the utmost solemnity, the best joke, of his peace mission. It consists of a long telegram to the Pope, asking for his goodwill and co-operation, and is addressed to "Benedict VII," whom, later, Mr. Ford lias learned died in f193 A.D. The Pope decided to ignore the jesters, pointing out that unless the belligerents have a saving sense of humor, Mr. Ford and his party run a, grave risk of being eourt-martialled and shot for attempting a direct appeal to the troops in the trenches to strike. The universities have declined to allow a representative of the students to accompany the party, commenting on the plan as a grotesque one, which would accomplish nothing ibut to bring ridicule oil the country.