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Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1917, Page 4

The speech ; by the British TYimo Minister, cabled so fully yesterday, i 3 likely to have a 'bracing and cheerful effect upon not only the people at Home, hut upon everyone in the furthest outposts of the Empire. , It no ordinary speech, because iti was no ordinary occasion. It is probably the crisis of the •war, when tho issue is so pregnant with good or evil for Britain and humanity. Britain is menaced now as she has never teen menaced before. At the beginning of the war the future looked as black as it could be, but thanks to the way in which our small army fought, and the bravery, skill, and power of the French army, Britain was saved from immediate peril. Foiled at sea by the British navy, Germany has concentrated all lier resources upon the building of an immense fleet of submarines to harass shipping, and indeed to cut off all shipping from 'Britain. No warning is given, no discrimination shown; enemy and neutral alike are fair game for the Teuton murderers. Neutral shipping conveys foodstuffs to Britain, and: the purpose of the Germans is to reduce Britain, just as the latter has starved and is starving the Fatherland. To them any means, however brutal and antihumanitarian, are permissible, so long as the end is achieved. (Britain's methods of blockade have made no enemies, but Germany's have brought 'America on to our side, a fact, as Mr. Lloyd-George says, providing us with a satisfactory balance as against the losses we have sustained by the submarine warfare, the States recognising the futility of waving a neutral flag in the face of a shark. Submarining is a difficult problem, and

one that lias to to faced. But Mr. L!oy<l-<Jeorge is very hopeful of our ability to circumvent it. The best brains of the Allies, lie tells us, are beiug applied to the problem, and' thero is no human problem that is insoluble. But Britain is now thoroughly awake to the necessity, of growing more foodstuffs. It has millions of acres of fresh land under cultivation, representing an additional two million tons of'food. Provision is already toeing made for the harvest of 191-8. Three million fresh acres of land are being put under cultivation, and the ; Prime Minister says that even without a ton of (food 1 being brought from abroad, no one can starve at Home. This is very satisfactory news. It shows that, whatever success the 'Huns may achieve with their submarines, Britain will never be starved into submission. It is a pity these steps had not been taken earlier* aa then there would have 'been no immediate danger of a food shortage. Turning to shipping, Mr. Lloyd-George said that in addition to the saving of one and a quarter million tons last year, the newj arrangements were now working to stop an additional six million tons of imports, whilst ultimately imports woul be cut down 'by over ten million tons yearly without interfering with any essential industry. Furthermore, Britain is speeding up the working of minerals, securing by that means four million tons u£ ore in addition, to that Ibeing obtained now. This shows Britain is taking no chances, and also that she stands to gain immeasurably not only during the war but after the war by fully exploiting her natural resources and cutting down imports that are not vital to the nation. The country, too, is concentrating upon building ships. "The Shipping Controller.' says the Prime Minister, "has already made arrangements whereby we will have thrice, and possibly four times as many new ships in 1017 as last year." Although the losses were heavy, and assuming the losses would continue, Mr. Lloyd George was able to assure the nation that in July next Britain will 'bring more cargo tonnagiv into her ports than she did in March last. This is a great achievement, and shows what Britain can do when she is up against it. Altogether, the situation is very reassuring, despite the success of the submarine campaign. Last week's bag was so heavy that the position seemed alarming; but, in tlie) light of the Prime Minister's statements, we can face the future with equanimity, defying the enemy to do liis very worst. It only remains for the men and women of the oountry each to do his or her duty, putting up with' rationing, working to secure the greatest possible returns from the land, and going oil building ships and manufacturing munitions. Mr. Lloyd-George's remarks concerning the future relations iwith the colonies will also be road with satisfaction. "They have now established claims to a real partnership, and henceforth effective consultation must be the only basis of co-operation." Already the representatives of the Dominions and India have had a real share in the War Cabinet's counsels and decisions, and the Prime Minister acknowledges they have 'been a source of strength and wisdom. Thus opens a new chapter in the relations of the Motherland with the colonies. Probaibly the latter as a whole would be content to go on as before, trusting to the Old Country doing the fair thing by them in her good time; but the war undoubtedly lias forced things somewhat, ar.d iwclded a real partnersnip that cannot ibe other than beneficial to every part of the Empire.