BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE BLOCKADE. ... FOREIGN OFFICE CRITIUISED. " SIR E. GREY IX DEFENCE. "* ; Received Jan. 27, 8.40 p.m. London, Jan. 20. In the House of Commons Mr. Shirley Benn moved a resolution urging the Government to enforce as effective a blockade as possible, without interfering with neutral countries' normal requirements for their internal consumption. He said that if the Government had grasped the nettle and used Britain's sea power with [greater effect it might have saved a certain period of the war. He hoped that the Government, in conjunction with their allies, would prevent the whole of Germany's oceanic trade by the blockade, and make everything for Germany and out of Germany contraband. He did not think that America would object, as the full common-sense of the majority of her people was keenly alive to their interest. Mr. Leverton Harris referred to Germany's ruses to get contraband through the navy. We had seized honey which on analysis proved to be a mixture of rubber and glycerine, and had also captured rubber disguised as onions, and metal as Japanese works of art, wrapped in rubber.

Sir Edward Grey said the subject was not as simple as it might appeal - from speeches and articles. There were most difficult complications. There was real misapprehension in the House of Commons in regard to the amount of trade passing .between neutrals and the enemy, and a vast underestimate of what tlie Government was doing to prevent it. The figures recently scattered broadcast would not bear examination, and the conclusion founded thereon had undoubtedly done great harm. The fact was overlooked that in peace time many neutrals drew supplies from countries which would be unavailable in war time. Further, a large'amount of stuff from the United States that was believed to be destined for the enemy had never reached the neutrals, as it was in British prize courts. In regard to the statement that the export of wheat from the United States to Scandinavia had in-, creased from nineteen million bushels in ten months in 1913 to fifty million bushels in 1015, those fifty millions included exports to Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Malta, amounting to twenty-three millions. The last-named countries had hitherto largely depended on Black Sea ports. They must also deduct several million bushels used for the relief of Belgium. «„ •~fe'.-;jgi,;gjp.i Sir E. Grey instanced, several niore deductions to show that the Scandinavian imports were not excessive. They could not stop the leakage altogether, and whatever system was adopted they could not take Over the administration of neutral countries nor prevent smuggling against neutrals' own regulations. It was impossible, however strict the supervision of the navy, to ensure that no part of a cargo would find its way to the enemy. Sir Alexander Henderson's i report showed that the maximum was being done that was possible, without serious trouble with neutrals.

The charge that the Foreign Office was spoiling and undoing the navy's work was grossly unfair and untrue, he continued. Since the beginning of 1916 the Government only released three ships without consulting the Contraband Committee. Two of these cases were discussed by the Cabinet and the ships were released for special reasons. The third case was that of the Stockholm, about which the Swedish Government specially appealed. The Government telegraphed that if they received certain assurances they would release, and they received the undertaking. Was it not time that these reckless statements were stopped? The Foreign Office had done its best to retain the goodwill of neutrals, from whom we wanted special supplies, and had to explain and justify interference with their trade. Tliat was not easy. W e had no right to say that the Prize Court was the neck of a bottle through which all neutral trade must pass. Had we attempted to go that far the war might possibly have, been over now, because the whole world would have been against us and the Allies would have collapsed under its resentment. "Our correspondence- with America «riU continue to be a justification of our jolicy. We are consulting France before replying to the United States' last note, with a view to pursuing the same policy, justifying it with the same arguments, and putting the same case before the world. We are' perfectly ready to examine any means of carying out the policy laid down in March last, which i s likely to be more agreeable to neutrals and less inconvenient in practice. So long as it was effective they could not abjure the right to interfere with enemy trade. They could not exercise it without considerable inconvenience to neutrals, who must answer one of the main questions. Do they admit our right to apply the principle with America applied in the war between the North and the South, and do our best to prevent trade with the enemy through neutrals? If the neutrals answered 'yes,' as in fairness they are bound to do, we will say, 'Make it easy for us to distinguish" goods which are bona fide destined for neutral consumption." If they answer, 'No,' then we must say definitely that their attitude is a departure from neutrality.

"The United States' last Note contained proposals which, if conceded, would make it absolutely .impossible to prevent even contraband goods from going wliolesale through neutrals to the enemy. If we conceded nil the Note asked we might as well give up the attempt at carrying out the blockade, but I do not understand that the United States or any Government hold that view. We are entitled lo claim the utmost rights recognised under international law in nrevious wars.''

Sir E. Grey said he did not intend to say what would be the conditions of peace. He pointed out that we must end Prussian militarism, which is a constant menace to peace. The whole of our resources were engaged in the war, and our maximum efforts—military, naval; and financial —were at the Allies' disposal for carrying on the conflict, and we would exert all our efforts to put the maximum pressure on our enemies. Part of that pressure might be the preventing of supplies going to the enemy by using the full power of the navy, and Britain will relax no effort, in common with her Allies, to see the thing through to the end. Received Jan, 28, 1,15 a.m. London, Jan. 27.

Sir E, Grey received a prolonged ovation at the close of his speech. The House was impressed by the weight of his arguments, and even the doubters realised the difficulty of the nroblem.

A STINGING ARTICLE. DR. DILLON SPEAKS TO THE POINT, Received Jan. 27, 8.30 p.m. London, Jan. 26. 'Dr. Dillon, in an article in tlie Fortnightly Review, protests against thwarting the magnificent efforts of the navy, and says the Foreign Office is going out of its way to make the blockade a farce. There is only British sea power between us and defeat, and if success depended upon the exercise of intelligence that is superior to that of the enemy we might regard the war as already lost beyond recovery. HAMPERING THE NAVY. Received Jan. 27, 10.40 p.m. London, Jan. 27. Dr. Dillon further says: "The reason for the present desperate plight is the absence of genuine leaders of strong will, high purpos*, and true insight; also the lack of efficient internal organisation. The failure which paralysed the heroism of the army has been applied more considerately and more 'subtly to thwarting the magnificent efforts of the navy. If the Foreign Office had not hampered the navy Germany would have been forced to sue for peace before the end of 1015. A PESSIMISTIC VIEW. We are slowly organising for defence, and have yet t6 organise for victory. We may to-morrow have to organise for b.ire existence. The public believes that things are going better, but I know enough ro be unable to share that consoling faith.

GERMAN RUSES. Received Jan. 27, 10.30 p.m. London, Jan. 27. The Foreign Office reports on the. results of searches of neutral steamers disclose thiit the Germans are endeavoring to evade, the blockade restrictions by sending by post, as jewellery, rubber marked: "Samples, no value,'' and also propagandist literature. REPLY XO DAILY IIAFL. London, Jan. 20. The Press Bureau has issued a reply by the War Trade Department to the Daily Mail articles alleging that the blockade was ineffective. The Daily Mail's information is derived from the Danish paper Borsen. A comparison of the cargo lists in the Borsen with the official lists in Britain indicates defects by including consignments to Norway and elsewhere. Arrangements were made months ago with Danish ships whereby articles destined for the Prize Court' were allowed to proceed to Denmark, on the undertaking that thf>y would be returned to Britain, or, in some eases, stored in Denmark until the end of the war. This is necessary owing to the fact that the goods are often at the bottom of the holds, necessitating the entire unloading of the. ships. The Borsen included the whole cargoes: therefore it will easily be realised that with two such great sources of error the Daily Mail figures are much inflated. In nearly all eases the calculation of percentages is excessive by 100 per cent. There is no reason to suppose the official figures are incorrect. The Department then deals with the figures of the Morning Post's Xew Yorkcorrespondent, which, it declares, are incorrect and do not agree with tlie American trade returns. It says the implication made is that increased quantities have been exported from America and filtered into Germany, but the fact that neutral European countries in normal times obtain great supplies from Germany and Russia is overlooked. The statement adds that the American figures overlook the goods unloaded in England and placed in Prize Courts! The report, generally denies and minimises the figures.

A DUTCH OPINION. The Hague, Jan. 26. The Vaderknd comments:—"The tightening of the British blockade in consequence of our lawful commerce with Germany is not in the British interest, as it might involve a conflict with Holland and prolong the war." ■RECRUITING APPROVED OF. Received Jan. 27, 5.30 p.m. London, Jan. 26. The Labor Conference passed a resolution, by an overwhelming majority, approving of the action of the Parliamentary Labor Party in co-operating with recruiting. One delegate declared that if some of the Independent Labor Party leaders had co-operated compulsion would not have been necessary Mr. Wallhead protested against compulsion. If the Government cDiild not get men the only, alternative was to commence to consider peace. (Loud cries of dissent and some of approval.) QUESTIONS IN" PARLIAMENT, REDUCTION IN DRUNKENNESS London, January 26. In the House of Commons, Mr. Tennant, replying to a question, said that no British soldier had been shot in the United Kingdom for military offences. It was not in the public interest to state the number shot in the forces overseas, but the number was inconsiderable. Mr. Addison announced that the convictions for drunkenness in the principle restriction areas in England had fallen one-lialf. In Scotland the figures were less satisfactory, although there was a substantial reduction.

NAVAL PREPARATIONS. DOCKYARDS AT WORK. London, January 2G. Mr. Balfour, in answer to questions, said the Government had no evidence that Germany possessed 17in guns. Every dockyard in Britain and the Mediterranean was working to its utmost capacity on new construction or repairs for ourselves and the Allies. It was manifestly impossible to add to the magnitude of the preparations. Nothing had occurred to justify the Admiralty in thinking that any serious error of judgment had been made in connection with the various types of ships under construction. .*■• A BY-ELECTION. London, .lan. 26. The voting in the Mile End by-elec-tion was: Brookes (Coalitionist) 1991, Billing 1615. Billing, who stood as an Independent, is an aviator, who resigned from the army for the purpose of advocating a more active aviation policy for the defence of London,

.. THE LABOR CONFERENCE, WILL ASSIST GOVERNMENT. | •' London, Jan. 26. Mr. Anderson, M.P., presiding at the Labor Conference at Bristol, representing 2,093,365 members, said that militarism and democracy could not live together in Germany or anywhere else. There were signs of a reaction in Britain. Mr. Lloyd George would like to see the rules of the army apply in the workshop, but was not very successful in his attempt, through the Munitions Act. The Compulsory Service did not redeem Mr. Asquith's pledge, for no form of words offered immunity from the risk of forced industrial service. Any attempt to use this weapon to coerce trades unionists would lead to great bitterness and end in failure. Mr. Anderson emphasised that it was impossible for the country to be a great naval, a great military, and a great industrial power. After the war it would be a different world, a hard, bad world, unless Labor took n hand in shaping it. Mr. Sexton, on behalf of the Liverpool dockers, moved a resolution •expressing horror at the German atrocities and pledging the conference to assist the Government as far as possible in the successful prosecution of the war. He remarked that if Germany won, nothing else on God's earth mattered.

Mr. Mlllikan (Liverpool)'seconded the motion.

Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald appealed for foresight and toleration. They were too early and too late to pronounce on the origin of the war. He asked the conference not to divide on this question lest it should interfere with unity in fighting the common enemy. At the Labor Conference Mr. Roberts, M.P., said the situation demanded a clear statement from the conference on its attitude to the war. Whole-hearted support of the resolution would be an encouragement to the boys in the trenches, to those in hospital, and also to the Allies.

Mr. Gilmour (Scottish miners) and Mr. Wardle (Railwaymen's Union) supported the resolution, which was> carried amidst applause. T'Hc card vote showed 1,302,000 for the resolution and 002,000 against.

MINERS' FEDERATION. London, Jan. 20. The. Miners' Federation Congress at Bristol has resolved not to do anything to hamper the Government during the KING EDWARD'S HORSE. London, Jan. 20. The 2nd King Edward's Horse has earned official recognition owing to its excellent work. It has volunteered for the trenches in France. CONCERTS FOR TROOPS. London, Jan. 2fl. At a meeting at the Mansion House, at which the Lord Mayor presided, Miss Lena Ashwell appealed to Australasia for assistance to continue concerts in hospitals at the front, especially for the concert party going to Malta and Egypt. GERMANY'S BIG GUNS. Wellington, Jan. 27. The High Commissioner reports under date London, January 20, 4.3 p.m.: In the House of Commons Mr. Balfour stated that the Government had no cvi-' dence that Germany possessed 17in. naval guns, but that it was not impossible she had. Mr. Runciman. said the Government was taking steps Jto restrict unnecessary imports, and that a full statement would be made later. NEW FORM OF SWINDLE. London, Jan. 20. Evidence in the Police Cqurt. showed that during the fortnight before his arrest Dallas Allmani received £IOOO from Ottoman Jews, many of whom are diamond dealers from Antwerp waiting permits to leave. The Home Office restrictions were removed early in December. Allmani pretended to have influence with the Home Office, a nd that he was able to obtain permits to prevent Ottomans from being interned. One Jew paid £IOO for a permit.