MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE MESOPOTAMIA DEBATE. LORD CREWE'S EXPLANATION. Received July 13. 10.45 p.m. London, July 13. In the House of Lords there whs a large attendance on the two (lavs of the Mesopotamia debate. Lord Crewe paid a tribute to the Cotmnission's labors, but complained that the public criticism in »ome instances was going beyond the report. The inception of the expedition was due to Turkey's entry into the war campaign, and grew out of India's unique position in the Empire. It was almost uniformly successful up to June In. It was generally realised that the capture ! of Kutel-Amara would be strategically important. He denied that India's assistance in this world war was lukewarm from the 'beginning, and he defended the private exchange of telegrams between the Viceroy and the Secretary of State.

In the House of Commons, llr. Austen Chamberlain, referring to the earlier move on Bagdad, warmly repudiated the charge that Ministers for political reasons deliberately sent men on a hazardous gamble. He defended Lord Hardinge, against whom the gravest allegation was that he entrusted military affairs too implicitly to his military advisers. The debate was adjourned. Router Service. Received July 14, 1,55 a.m. London, July 13.

In the House of Commons Mr. Balfou? announced that the Government woiila adopt the proposal for a statutory tribunal to deal with both the soldiers i'iid civilians concerned in the Mesopotamia report. He added that Lord Hardinge had thrice offered his resignation since tlu> publication of the report, but he (Mr. Balfour) refused to accept it.

MEAT .PRICES FIXED. London, July 12. Fixed prices for meat will operate from September 1. AMELIORATING PRISONERS' HARDSHIPS. London, Jul}* 12. 'Lord Newton, in the House of Lords, stated that the agreement arrived at by the British and German delegates at the Hague will greatly benefit many thousands of prisoners. The British Cabinet had approved of the agreement, but a detailed statement was not desirable until the Germans had approved of it.

A largely-attended meeting of members of Parliament adopted a resolution deploring the serious failure on the part of the Central Prisoners War Committee to supply bread to prisoners in Germany, thereby inflicting serious privations. The supply of medicines and comfort■* was inadequate, and the dispatch of clothing and boots should be hastened to reach prisoners before the cold weather, especially in Asia Minor and Bulgaria. THE REASON FOR THE RESIGNATION. Received July 13, 5.25 p.m. j London, July 12.

In the House of CommoWfcMr. Austen Chamberlain announced .that be had resigned because his conduct might be impugned before the Mesopotamia Court of Inquiry.

WESTERN CASUALTIES. Received July 13, 7.10 p.m. London, July 12. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law declined to order on inquiry, similar to the Dardanelles and Mesopotamia inquiries, into the casualties on the West' em front since Juiy 1. He added that the commanders were as anxious as anyone to protect the lives of soldiers.