MR. HUGHES IN PARIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1916, Page 3

MR. HUGHES IN PARIS.

POTENT PERSONALITY. "TIGHTEN THE BLOCKADE." London, June IS. The delegates from (lie Paris Economic Conference returned to London to-day. Mr. Hughes' influenee was of the strongest throughout the proceedings, leading delegates, particularly the French and the Italian, declaring him to be the most potent personality there. Mr. Hughes spoke twice on the first day, once on the second, and also summarised the proceedings in a fighting speech on the final day. He also moved am important resolution, which was carried unanimously. He contended for strong and direct wording in the resolutions, usually securing amendments, and was not satisfied until he had accurately t'tinslated the tnotijiia, searching unashamedly in his Fr.jnclj dictionary for the exact word. Mr. Hughes secured a unique souvenir album of the eonfermee containing the autographs of the delegates. The French and Italian representatives wrote flattering references to Mr. Hughes' lendership, and sent him their photographs, inscribed in friendly and congratulatory terms. ALLIES" ZONE OF STEEL. The Petit Parisien announces that. Mr. Hughes made a striking utterance at yesterday's conference. "We must," lie declared, "choose between offending neutrals and diminishing our chances of victory. We must exhaust our treasures and lose thousands of valuable lives, or else encircle the enemy in an impassable zone of steel. The United States is n great neutral nation, but the Americans are a practical people who do not wish the war to last for ever, however profitable it may be. It has already lasted too long for them." WAR SPEECHES REVIEWED. London, .Tune 17. Mr. Charles Whibley, author of "The Letters of an Englishman," writes as follows in a review of Mr. Hughes' war speeches:— "The presence of- Mr. Hughes and of Sir George Foster in Paris is a guarantee that we will not be unprepared for peace as we were unprepared for war. It is a guarantee that we will henceforth be knit with the Dominions, who have fought with us. Mi. Hughes' voice has been one of the few authentic voices of statesmanship heard in England since the war began. Let ns remember, too. that he i.= a man of action. While British Minister shuffled and hesitated, he wiped out all the German agencies in j Australia. What Australia has done Great Britain and France may achieve. We must not shrink from protection, even prohibition, if necessary." After quoting Mr. Hughes' post-war Imperial policy, the writer concludes: "We can only achieve this policy if we forget the extreme foolishness of C'obdenism and suppress for ever our foolish hankerings for large loaves."