MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

LABOR AND STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE.

-Mil. HENDERSON'S EXPLANATION.

DISCUSSION" IX Till: HOUSE OF Lu.MMuXS. Receivcil Aug. 14, :>."> p.m. London. Ans. 13. In the House of Conine.n,.. Mr. Ilcnderr.on. speaidnj: from tin.' Labor benches, said 1. ■ intend.*! in i-pcnk at Icu'Hh. mvir in liif unprecedented, (ianc/crons pi. .■■-■ canipiii-n ancnf hi.-, pn-ition in tin 1 ('ai)iiu'i, and ; s acinus ..1 tlie Labor fun 'eronoc. It would lie iiinio.-t inipn-s----i)i!f to find ;i |.r.-f-i!t-;i1. in tin- of Miuii-terial ro: iun . fur tin- conduct of the Premier and his <T.!li'.;';;w's during tin- week-end. He received the first iminu'tii'ii id I'.e a "'pn'i'.itip-' of his rcxiL'iinlion from >li" in w-pap.-r-. ti'ou<;h In'' vv;t> . .ill wiTrk ; :i-.' in 'he War Cabinet'- oTiee. Mr. Linvii (o'Mi_.p. ai'aT the e<>nfercn.-" - s doci-ion. said that his (Hip speak; r'.-i n.'d'io:! v, ..-pit 1.-ry of the !.aLnr ir.m wa . incnn-pa tilde nit* bis

p'-it ; :-: ;:- :: I'lPir.b r of tl." (';:!>iiipt. lip el' .1- H.:- former, ar.d lie only wished Mr. Lloyd Ceorjie had emiii.itcd the tharaci-r mid .spirit of his letter of resignation.

Received Ana' 11. (i.lii p.m. Mr. Henderson said tin' f' 'I story roili'.riiiii',' ilic Stockholm conference coiilA* not be told nt present. Ho \v;.r.id wait his tMiir. li was impossible to -itiito all tin' facts without injuring tin' national inloro-t, but' the pro.-s :Ularks lind

forced liim to d<'i\l with of-rJ-.i'm event?, i-0.-mllo- of I In' c'in-i.,| ,on,av. 11.. ad-li-cd I lie Labor party on June Jo to accept ilic ini itatior, to rite Soekholm conference. Hi- visit to Paris wits discus,,,', ;i! i! ,-peelal mcotiii"; of Cabinet. Cn 1 lie diiv before Ms departure lie wired ill" Labor 1 party's .loci-ion to Mr. Lloyd who 'fa- then in Paris. Mr Lloyd (Von;!' and iiis coHcn'/ties stood convicted of lmvinjr in'imaled to the Hoik,, thai th" imatiL'eniem s for ilic Paris visit had been made without their k.a-wled'ro.

Mr. Lloyd (.enrae ini.-rj-vi-d: T e only wive I received -■:!;■: you were cumin" in Pari- viih tae llr-.ii'.n delegates and Mr. liamsav M.uaP'nald. Mr. linnar I a.-.v al-o that Mr. Mender.-.,1. - .■..i1.M.Ml- "live them no intiira'ii-n ,o- Vs 0 ;; ..,|ti,,,|; in Paris

until ii.-r:i,i.:eiiien;s bad la-en made. They eleiiriv i:\i.russed tliLir disapproval of Ilis Visit.

Mr U.mtl -1--.. H replied: Thr.t does nof .Iter 1 ■;■- ;'.;<-: that Ibe War Cabinet at ■1 sp ( .,-inl i-inetin-j'ili-eus-..il the visit: Tie r-niioin ad ilier.'il tiie bailor executive's deci-ioii re.-nnmieiiilin..' the iio-entanee of the 's'loeklioltii iuvpittio,-.. Opinion in the (al'inet was sh-rplv divided. .Ml bis rolleiiirue- opposed him. He oli'ered to vesi..,!. He explained to Mr. Lloyd ('e'irire bis oninion ]••>::.,rdiii.' the consult iiiv,. ~„,]iYivive ni Stoikbolni. Alter iiis ret- rn i'.-.-in Paris Mr, L 1..-.-1 Ceor?"

invito,! hit,l to a speeial niaetine; of (lie ( abinet. He nits Pen, vaPiv! outside for a full hour. Then Mr. Parnes was. .-en 1 out end made a staiemem to him. He (Mr. 11.-mb r-'mi s-»i,| to Mr. Barnes: '■fi. iioi do in: in.■... in tin- wav.'' and added v.,- w:i> either a meinbe, ■' of the I'ai.iuiv or iio v-.-ius -..,!.t. If tli" former, be v -1,1,1 t - IV: 1.1 Cabinet. Mr. Parnes eon-.i.vcd the in.,.--... and Mr. Heuder-

= ..,•, -v:i- n-i-niiied ti. if.,- room. Mr. |.'.,v,l (~.<,,-:■,■ • .vphiinnl Hint hj» was kr-p! nv>i'i'\'! i'i'!! of ivj/ard for his per-~i-ti;i) iVrliirj 1 -. Hi' ("Mr. Henderson I prop:.lined id.ii !n- bin! mi! lie-n ?iven an opportunity to -l-ili' in Cabinet 111.' reason* in favor of i!i n Stockholm confer-o.„-o. Cabin.-! had already rr.civi-.l tin' 1 .-•".- .•'.i'-i-.-' advice .-iL'-tiiwl. pariicip.-i----i .hi. .!•- - ,ii'i/'.-!(»! «n immediate annena. .iiii-'!' thereof, if the llovrnmcnt i.rm I :" :«■" thereon- alio lie inli'ii.stc! his iiii"ii'i<in nf if Cnh-;»-t ml,-.! th'-rc ;i. (iiluT Labor Min- ■.-,■■ r , ; , v-:>!.-:■ ,| J: - L-ilvor eoiifcrciieo Jeon'-lV nnfoieivd by the lav officers advice. Mr. Henderson denied lio had lii'"M requested '.'i aniiKr.ii.-!> Iho (iovernnuiii -- position In Friday's- conference. He v.-iul'd have resigned firs!. Mr. Lloyd Ccnp.o in his li'lirr sniil if li.-> were commit lid in the Stockholm conference 111 i-n-V 1.. have ivii.i-u.'d. TIU s,.i'--'-h on Friday was -iiiif.lv mi i»ip: : rLial -.tiit>li!"ii! ~f ;!u- Labor ovociiive's view, lie spoke ;is a l.iilior secretary, nr.d contended thai hj" ?ave the conference a correct ■imiiiiary of the Russian Govern nvnt'- ie-ilion. Tip wn. cen'-wed for iiol '!:.->' i- 'Ji.it 111- 1 I T ii--',ii; Con rr.nirnt had ..nvav-'l n mandatory conference. Ho. impres-ed Jiit upon the i .inference. Tr the lcl"','r.im had been received from M. Kit .ir-kv (ill Friday lip hud not rppcivcd il. bnl. while waitin? al llu> Premier's ■-Cretan's room after the close of Hip cnten-rir-e hp was told '.hat M. Kereuakv, in a telotiram. h-.nl dissociated himself from Hip Stockholm conference. He 1) ul received a h-tler from Mr. I lord (.'(.or;'. 1 on Friday, when quitting tlie plalfurni.

Mr. l.lovd lieorse said he did not in-t'-iid to reply to the trivialities eompris-lluve-'iliarteri of Mr. 11, nderson's sp"ivh. All tin member-- of tie- Cabinet lindeistood t hi. 1 Mr. Henderson hart phaii;.'-"! iii- mind and intended to op-iio-e (he Stockholm conference and stateil,e Ciivernnii ni's po.-ifion. If Mr. Hen-dcr.-oir had done Hie 1,-itfi-r lie would have jireatly iutliieueed the Labor conference against the Stockholm conference.

Kqilyina to Mr. Philip Snowdon, Mr. i.loyd i:i'oi-l>.-' reii'-'d I" -lili' who wrote tli.' (elepram received on Friday. His letter ti> Mr. Tlcudcr-nn un Friday was vent in 2"firi iini". :i■ >"I should have reached him if : "'id ''hue. Al all events Mr. Mender-' n would have rend it to the conference liefi.re (lie vote was taken, and it would have made a substantial ilitl'erciiee in the vol in;: of the vast majority of the conference. Nntlioi- " eould he more fatal than Mi'eli a conference with the enemy :lt tin' very moment when the Russians we'-e 'lakinrr their first slop towards thi' restoration of diseiplii.ii', and

. i, orcein the Irad rno-ation of the ar;ni< -. at tin- front. The l.'neli-b. French. lialiaii -nd American Governments had

:-.u:-eed thereupon, and d"eided tT.at pcac. terms, if discussed, must lie discussed by re;.n'!-en(nlivc- of lhe whole nation. He >s;o. the last man to disparage Labor's oiovrs. but Lj.b.ir '«- not ihe whole '., pie. When peace cam- to be made it nm>t be made by the nation as a whole, l'ritain was not doinfr her dirty by the Allii-. especially Russia, if she u.ucontraH'd on a weii'-nal peace. Received Ant.'. 11. •> -0 p.m.

Lomlon, Aiif.'. '3. l\tr. Asquuh regretted the unfortun::le controversy. Undoubtedly there bad been some misunderstanding. The disclosures snowed the impossibility of u Minister filling a dual capacity. A conflict of interests must eventually arise. Tha only peace which was satisfactory

to the Allied peoples to recompense tbe suenlice made, w;.s a peace approved by tbe peoples of all countries concerned. He would bo sorrv if, as a result of Die debate, if should 'p;o forfli to the world that I-abor favored •n;i\\ ii to Stockholm, and pave the way to ;i precarious and dishonorable peaee. Labor's declaration of policy showed (bey were determined to pursue flic war to the end. There was no doubt about Labor, except an insignificant minority. Received Aug. 14, IO.M p.m. London, Aiifr. 1.1.

Mr. Henderson explained that lip had not read Mr. Llioyil Georpe's letter to tlie eonterence because he had already informed the conference. Hussia's position'regarding the .Stockholm conference hail been notified. The Cabinet is aware, I resolutely favored the Stockholm conference. Mr. Llord (!i'orj:c' , s letter surests that I should have "resie/ned. kiiovviii" the adverse view of my cnileacues. hut if T had resigned before, the i(inference vote in favor of attenil■ll!.' the Stockholm conference wonhl have, been larjrei enabling it to be saiil that it was not u vole, on the merits, but on Mr. HeiJersMi's resignation. Received Aug. 15, 12.30 a.m.

London. Aug. 14. In the House of L'oinmo;. the pacifists accepted Mr. A.-quilh's advice not to pur-uc the nnu'er further. Tlie subject vis then, dropped.

THE WAR CABINET. MR. BARNES APPOINTED. Received Aug. 14, 8 p.m. London, Aug. 13. The Press Bureau reports that Mr Barnes. Pensions Minister, lias been appointed to the War Cabinet, vice Mr Hendeison.

THE RECENT AIR RAID. TWO ENEMY CRAFT DESTROYED. London, Aug. J.'). The Admiralty reports that a hostile aeroplane of the Colha type was destroyed during 11- ■■• return of the raider.to the Belgian eoast. A hostile seaplane wa.s also destroyed oil' the Flanders eor.it. A large numbei of naval machines had an indecisive engagement with the raiders over the sea. The pilot, who destroyed the Goths, first pursued the enemy at an altitude of 12.011(1 feet from the' North Foreland to fifteen miles oil' Zeebrugge, where the enemy was lust.

Returning over the Thames mouth, the pilot observed anti-aircraft lire at Sji'lhend, and flew there, (limbing as he went. He observed eight Gothas, followed by four British aeroplanes, steering north-east. He climbed to IS.OOO feet and attacked witlnr.it result. Thirtymiles out K sea he MUiult.incot;slv oh..er.rd hu-tile machines at 4(100 leet below (lie enemy formation. He attacked and drove the enemy into the water.

RAIDERS MAKING FOR LONDON. COULD NOT FACE OPPONENTS.

A. and N'.Z. fable Assoc, and Reuter Received Aug. 11. 10.55 p.m. London, Aug 14.

The Press Bureau stat'.s that pilots' reports show that, yesterday's raiders were making for London, but turned abrnpily on sighting a largo number of our aeroplanes, and unloaded the remainder of the bombs into the sra\ Our ami-aircraft guns greatly assisted.

.SUGGESTED CONFERENCE AS XO PRISONERS.

London, Aug. 1.1. In the House of Commons, Mr. Hope drew the attention of the Government to tite question conferring with Turkey regarding prisoners in a manner similar to the recent Hague conference with Germany.

THE WAR LOAN BILL. Received Aug. 15. 12.30 a.m. London, Aug. 14. The War Loan Bill lias been put through the committee stage. Mr. Bon,ir biw slated that pre-war taxation yielded .Cllio.ooo.oflo, and in 1017 the yield wr,« t570.00i1.000, mainly from direct taxation. The Government had tried to get tba utmost out of taxation without destroying the power of financing by loan. The present Bill was intended to meet tho debt incurred.