BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE. 'l'l-IE MIGHT OF BRITAIN. AN INSPIRITING INTERVIEW. Received Feb. 20, 5,5 p.m. London, Feb. IS. Mr. Bonar Law, in an interview with a New York Times correspondent, said that if militarism, according- to the Prussian standard, was not crushed by the war nothing would prevent a repetition of the present catastrophe, ant civilisation in Europe would go down before barbarism. All the outpouring of blood and treasure would be in vam if the oiling up of armaments which preceded the conflict proceeds undiminished si'tei wards.

■The direction of the war has greatly imovorcd. We have concentrated hs control into fewer hands, and by linking up with the Allies we endeavor to get r.i:;ly i.f control. We must not ihiil. democratic countries are always at a disadvantage hi prosecuting a war. We were not organised, but we have now changed our vh-wpoint and entirely realise that nothing matters except the winning of (lie war. It is a proud achievement to be able to enlist nearly four million volunteers, and to Jind that six million men offered. There is no longer any anxiety regarding munitions, and we are gaining strength every week.''

THE EMPIRE'S OFFERINGS. The Minister paid tribute to the wonderful help rendered by the Dominions. He said: "Remember, the Dominions were under no obligations to send a single man. We hear mueli about the loyalty of the Dominions to the Mother Country, but it is not a question of 1 oy'.ilty. by Canau>. io England or England to Canada, but a question of common loyalty to the Empire and faith in the cause for which we are all fighting. If it were a dispute, say, between Canada and Britain Canadian loyalty would lie on the side of Canada. The Overseas Dominions have taken a big view of the war, their response being magnificent. Canada is preparing to place half a million men in the field; Australia is contributing ten per cent, of her population, and New Zealand even more. The West, Indies and Newfoundland have also sent line contingents; indeed, every part of the Empire has given splendid examples of patriotism.

STRONC FINANCIAL POSITION. ''l have no fear of our financial position. Our resources, though not inexhaustible, are so great, that we have not yet begun to feel the strain. We can continue longer than our enemies in drawing upon our stored-up wealth and productive resources without straining our capacity to pay or reaching the limit of self-sacrifice.

CRITICISE. "Another disadvantage of democracy in the case, of war lies in the necessity of facing the freedom of opinion which persists. The Government is attacked, but is unable io make a defence without revealing secrets. People in Germany were without the means of making opinions felt and their grievances k'lOwn. They are under the iron heel and must grin and bear it, but, in England criticism is indulged in in a way which would 'he impossible in any ether -u.uniry tha, was involved in war.

AX ECONOMIC ENTENTE PKOBABLE Asked if it wore contemplated that there should Tie an economic Entente among the Allies after the war, Mr. Bonar Law said: "I do. It will not be easy, but the war will have changed relations, and 1 believe will have settled the fiscal controversy. Cennany sescural a hold of Western Russia by commercial penetration, and that control must in future be in other hands, chiefly French and 'English. Germany will be driven out of many markets, and we will never again compete with her cm unequal terms. The Allies will probably enter into an economic Entente, and the British Empire will rely more on her own resources. Already the munition works have been revised. The British engineering trade has been induced to complete the remodelling of factories, and stimulated invention has forced reforms. This shows what the nation can do when it was strung to the highest pitch. This energy, in a word. has proved our power of adaptibility."

RELATIONS WITH NEUTRALS. Tlic interviewer "JJo you think tin; war will change relations between Britain and America';" Mr. Bonar Law: A change might possibly come if a League of Peace is formed to prevent a repetition of the present calamity. If so, America will naturally be an important member of that League. The rules and conventions for the regulation of war are arranged in times of peace. \Ylicn war comes, sud belligerents disregard these rules, only powerful neutrals could attempt to maintain their observance. In future, unless there are serious limitations to armaments there will be no force strong enough to see that the International conventions are observed, or that a repetition of present horrors is mado impossible.'' ADDEESS-IN-REPLY CARRIED, London, Feb. 1. The House of Commons passed the Address •in-Kegljs.