MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

A NATIONAL DISASTER. SCATHING TXDICTMEXT BY MR, BONAR L"AW. ' CONDEMNATORY RESOLUTION PASSED. b Received Dec. 2, 5:5 p:m. London, Dec. 1,

At the Unionist meeting Mr. Bonar Law gave an exhaustive review of the. situation. He said Lord Lansdowne had no official position in the party, and spoke for himself entirely. His yiews were not those of any of his colleagues, either in the Cabinet or outside. , Mr. Bonar Law added: "We wanted peace. It is horrible to look forward to a continuation of the war, but peacenow would not give that security for which we entered the war. If the Germans realised that we can go on longer than tliey, it may produce a change of feeling in Germany, resulting in one, perhaps, out of which peace would grow; The Government could not continue the war unless it had the backing of the people, but he believed the people were behind the Government i4nd would see it through, He absolutely disagreed and tlie tone of Lord Lansdowne's letter, which was nothing less, than a national misfortune, and sliould riot have been published now, of all times. The letter was based on the strange assumption that because Germany says sbc is ready to participate in a peace with the nations, and talks albout disarmament: therefore, peace is possible; but noobdy pretends that Germany coujd be fcoipd because she signed a treaty, "the whole world was against 9ier to-day. 'but it was unlikely it would be again if we don't insist on our riglits now. and how would we fight lier then ? We had got to show the "Germans, in the only wav that they can to m«d« to iwalise it. that War doesn't pay, and that their military machine cannot'get the desired result. This is only obtainable by victory. If the letter stimulates pacifist influences in the House of Commons so, that the Government cannot rely ,on a ; vote for war measures, then there was only one alternative, for the Government would bo powerless to "win the war unless certain people support them.; What, asked Mr. Bonar I/aw, would be • the position of the Empire after n ps-.ce made on this basis, which would walty be a defeat ? Already the war had been .protracted, causing suffering in every jjconntrv, including thu. .T)ppuninT(3:, but, unless we see it through, the unitv i t the Empire which we hoped wo-ild he solidified and become a greater reality as the result of the war, would not continue. Steadiness is the ope thing that can save us. Your duty Is to set an ex> lijimnle of unshaken steadfastness. I, The audience cheered and sarig the Rational Anthem

A strongly-worded resolution 5 , condemning the-nnblifiat-ion of the letter, wiis carried with enthusiasm' and cablcft to the Paris Conference,

EFFECT OF LETTER IN GERMANY.? ; ; ■REGARDED AS SEMI-OFFICIAL FEELER, Received Dec. 2, 8.13 p.m. . Amsterdam, Nov. '9O. The German papers publish Lord Lansdowne's letter on their front pages. They consider it is the beginning of reasonableness in England. The lbtter lias caused general satisfaction in Germany, where it is regarded as a semiofficial feeler. NOTHING TO ADD OR RETRACT STATEMENT BY LORD LANSDOWXE. United Service. Received Dec. 2, 11.30 p.ui. London, Dec. 1. Lord Lansdownc, interviewed, said: '•The letter is entirely lily own. I consulted no one and I received no suggestions from anyone, I have nothing to add or retract " UNIONISTS' STRONG CRITICISM, VIEWS NOT THOSE OF CABINET. Received Dec. 2, 11.5 p.m. London, D»o. 1. Lord Robert Cecil, interviewed said that before publishing the remarkable views regardin" the means of ending the war Lord Lansaowne did not consult any member of the Cabinet, Ha spoke for himself alone- The letter in no way reflects any modification in Britain's war policy, which was summed up in M. Clemenceau's pluase, "Our war aims are victory," Lord Lansdowne., said Lord Robert Cecil, does not represent any important ibfldy of tfopugjit, I Air. Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Northampton, said negotiations at this stage were impossible. Germany would' always be one of the great Powers. We were unable and did not desire to annihilate her, but we must not permit her "peaceful penetration," which was part qf Germany's preparations for war.

AMERICAN OPINION. COXDEMNATOB Y OF THE LETTER. .ißeceived Dec. 2, 11.30 p.m. New York, Dee. 1. The newspapers practically unanimousiv condemn Lord Lansdowne. They declare is nothing new in, his suggestions, President Wilson enunciated proposals much more, impressively. Some suspect he fears democracy will spread. Ail emphasise that the Allies can only deal with democratised Germany, .Tlio New York Times' Washington correspondent 'says Lord Lansdowne's view was calmly received in official circles. The latter is suspending judgment until it ascertains the compelling • motives Partisanship is suspected. It is pointed nut there is every indication of the United States .whpla-heartedly supporting Mr. Lloyd George. Ottawa, Nov. 3Q. The Canadian press with_ few exceptions denounces Lord Lansdowne'S letter as likely to afford the greatest encouragement to Germany. It is unthinkable that tho freedom of the sea? should be discussed at any time. Washington, NoV; 80. The Administration, while aotwlm

of the re-atatemeut of the AlUm' yd aims, disagrees with Lord, 'Lawdownei apparent willingness to nagotisiewitl the present German Government, President Wilson adhere* to the 4UM tude that be will not discusa peace imai except with a government roponaMtU the Reidhstag. V Unionists are decidedly hostile tojtord Lansdownc's proposals. One described ' them as an "act of treachery. * f Many Liberals, declare them worthy of the tr|ditio)>s;«f British" st&teijginship, ftswipiijjg'tliattlrey comcbanSWor in our jwlitieal compasSj and thltt'lQfirili Lnnsdowiifi/is the first statesmani has associated himself with President Wilson's views. . ■ . ' A Meeting of leader* of the Unionist party, inoluding Mr. W. H. Long tod,/', delegates of all parties in the coiintfry. strongly repudiated Lord Canßdowne's :letter. - Mr. Bonar Law describes the letter ai disastrous. . WEST BANK OF THE RHllil. .. , FRANCO-RUSSIAFAQREEMEKt. 1 London, Nov. I If the House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil, in reply to a question, laid that i the agreement between Fraoes aid Russia whereby the west bank of the * Rhine was to tie taken from Was not made after consultation with Britain. , . ». RETAIL BUTCHERS REGISTERED Received Dec. 1, 6.8 job. ; London, JfwxStf; : The Government is registering butchers-with a view to eon troll nig "meat conaumptton. THE CZAR'S DAUOHTtH HOW SHE ESCAPED PROM RUSSIA 1 , : ' Received Deo. 1, 5.6 p.m. Londcm. Nov. 30. n The Morning . Poststatei tfa»tt*e Czar's daughter, Tatiana, who wu fe■portedi to have escaped from Tobs(ife ■. and was journeying to America via * Japan, really journeyed to Moscow Wid in male clothe* gpd with sljort hair. She is naw in Englttlkd ,awaiting embarkation for America for- a lecturing tour, THE STORY RIDICULED. .<■ «' Received Dec. 3, 11.80 p.m. London, Deo !. Russian circles in {xmdon rid cule si(t story of Princess T«tsa«B,'s escape. suggest it is a shejer fabrication, swm certainly has not arrived in London. It ' is impossible that a devoted member of tl»o Greek Church would consent to the 5 mockery of a sham marriage. Vidb•ably it ; is some woman' intending to 7 -masquerade as a duchess in the Unfftw*' States.