BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE CABINET CRISIS. WOMEN FAVOR CONSCRIPTION. London, Juuary 2. tj.r j- ilium's resignation litis not yet been accepted. It is generally believed that tiio final majority hi favor of the llovernment's "1-Jill, which restricts compulsion to the duration of the war, will require four-fifths of the Liberal members of the House of Commons, all the Conservatives, and most of the Labor members. Mr. G. 11. Roberta (Norwich) and Mr. W. Brace (Glamorgan) support Mr. Henderson. It is now expected that the Labor Conference on Thursday will support the Bill. The public generally approve. Women are particulary incensed against shirkers. Many have lost husbands, brothers and sons in the war, and resent wellpaid unmarried men avoiding service. Groups (i, 7, 8 and 9 of the Derbyists, also 23 to 20, will shortly be called up. A DAY OF INTERCESSION. London, January 2. A day of intercession was observed throughout the country. There were muffled peals at many churches at the Archbishop's request. The day was also observed by the chapels.' Heavy rain affected the attendances. iPulpit references to the war were universal.

IMPERIAL TRADE CONFERENCE. London. January 2, The executive committee of the Imperial Council of Commerce, since the postponement of the Congress in Canada to 1917, has matured plans for a conference in London opening on June 5. It experts a representative attendance from overseas dominions and dependeii'-' cies. A circular to members of the council emphasises the desirableness of the adoption of a common policy, preparing the way to some extent for further action in connection with the congress of 1917. The provisional programme includes the following subjects: Preference within the Empire, preferential relations with measures against enemy countries in connection with manufactures and shipping, also against the dumping of enemy goods within the Empire, the amendment.,of naturalisation laws, compulsory registration of aliens, the question of licenses to trade and other regulations affecting foreign firms, prohibition of contra6ts with aliens which might be calculated to restrain Imperial trade, proposed uniformity of patents, designs and trade marks law, Imperial preference in taxation, the question of double incometax, and limitation of membership of chambers of commerce to Britialr-born subjects. All members of the council arc invited to the conference, together with certain special delegates from overseas and the United Kingdom.

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL ENTENTE. Paris, January 2. Le Temps, commenting on the proposed Commercial Entente among the Allies, says the Germans are growing uneasy about this new line of actipn, Hamburg shipowners have pointed out, ami German newspapers have re-echoed, the danger to Germany of the closing of the doors of foreign markets, especially those of the Allies. Our delay in resuming business, coupled with permanent obstacles to the invasion of our markets, will be fatal to Germany. Therefore the Commercial Entente is .more than an economic necessity; it is a political duty and a guarantee of future security. DILUTION OF LABOR. PLAIN TALK TO A DEPUTATION. Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 2. Official: Messrs Asquith and Lloyd George received a deputation of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Mr. Asquith stressed the importance of a whole-hearted dilution of labor on a large scale, without which neither Mr. Lloyd George could meet the necessities of war, nor the armies carry on efficiently. It was all important, he said, that we get the required output domestically, instead of from foreign sources. " The serious financial problem is the obligation to pay in the share of exports to America for munitions supplied, and dilution would mean an incalculuble gain from the point of view of military efficiency and financial stability. Nothing was more important than the manufacture of munitions on the largest possible scale and under the best possible conditions. Despite the March agreement the dilution had been sparingly adopted.

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. NEW FOREIGN OFFICE DEPARTMENT. Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 2. Mr. Wovthington Evans controls the Foreign Trade Department, which has been established as a new department of the Foreign Office to carry out the Trading with the Enemy Act, -The Government appeals for the advice and assistance of Chambers of Commerce to secure the full benefit of the policy, the success of which depends upon the active co-eperation of the business community. SCHEMES TO CAPTURE TRADE. Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m. Shanghai, Jan. 2. An American combine is striving to secure all industrial contracts. Japanese competition threatens British cotton goods. The British have commenced a campaign to capture enemy trade, and have formed a school in which to teach the Chinese language to Englishmen.