BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

DESTRUCTION OF PRUSSIAN MILITARISM. WHAT IT MEANS. London, April 12. In liis speech to the French Parliamentary visitors on Monday, Mr. Asquith said: "The Allies intend to pave the way to an international system of securing the rights of all civilised States, and intend to establish the principle that international problems must he handled liy free negotiations, on equal terms between free peoples, unhampered and unswayed by the overmastering dictation of a (iovernment controlled by a military caste. That is what is meant oy the destruction of Prussian militarism, nothing more and nothing less." This explanation of the phrase "destruction of Prussian militarism" has been widely commented on in Allied and neutral countries. « French newspapers believe, the words will bring home to the German peoples the dangers of their constitutional system. The Amsterdam paper Het Nieuws van den Dag emphasises the passage, and remarks that if this interpretation of the Allies' aims had been known earlier the legend could not have taken shape that Britain alto Her allies would not sheath the sword until Germany was disintegrated. "THESE IDIOTS." TRAFALGAR SQUARE RIOTS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, April 12. Several Trafalgar Square rioters were lightly fined at Bow Street, the magistrate advising them to leave these idiots alone in future. BUDGET PROPOSALS. RAILWAY TICKET TAX WITHDRAWN. Received April 13, 5.5 p.m. London, April 12. Hon. E. S. Montagu announced that the Government had withdrawn the railway ticket tax. MATCH MANUFACTURERS SATISFIED. As a result of a discussion with the Treasury and Customs' oiliciahj, the apau-n. mai.iiittcinrer.i JUave withdrawn their opposition to the tax, and will resume deliveries next week. .PROVISION" FOR MARRIED MEN. Mr. Asquith informed a deputation of married men that the Government were resolved, in an equitable if not generous spirit, to make pecuniary provision for the liabilities incurred by those married men who had joined. NATIONALISING WHISKY. The Evening News says that Mr Lloyd George is determined that whisky distilleries shall be nationalised till the end. of the war. The larger concerns are already under control of the Ministry of Munitions, which is negotiating for a further reduction of the output for public consumption. This will probably result in whisky costing the public half-a-guinea a bottle. The public arc taking largely to beer.

AN UNFOUNDED REPORT. Received April, 13. 8.33 p.m. London, April 13. The Daily Chronicle says that there is no foundation for the report that Britain intends nationalising the whisky trade. DOMINION REPRESENTATION. Reecived April 13, 8.5 p.m. London, April 12. In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Mr. Asquitli said he had not suggested that the Dominions should be specially represented at the Paris conference. Tf it had been possible for the other Prime Ministers, in addition to Mr. Hughes, to attend, they would have been invited. MONEY AND SECURITIES. DECLARED CONTRABAND. Received April 13, 8.25 p.m. London, April 13. An Order-in-Counci! declares that gold, silver, paper money, all negotiable instruments, and realisable securities are absolute contraband.,

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. AN AMERICAN PROTEST. Received April 14, 12.55 a.m. London, April 13. Mr. Page (the American Ambassador) has written to Sir Edward Grey protecting against the/Trading with the Enemy Act, which, he says, is pregnant with possibilities of undue interference with American trade. Sir E. Grey, in reply, says that the Government has confined itself to passing purely domestic legislation. Every eare will be exercised not to injure neutrals. The Daily Mail states that the protest is one of limpness, and says that in spite of the blockade enormous quantities of tobacco are permitted to enter Germany, through the medium of neutrals.