MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITAIN AND THE BOLSHEVIKS. A NON-COMMITTAL ATTITUDE. Received .)an. 17, 8.50 p.ir. London, Jan. 10. 111 the House of Commons, in reply to a question enquiring as to our attitude towards the Bolshevik Government, Mr. Balfour said that Britain did not, recognise the present administration at Petrograd as de-facto or de jure the Government of the Russian people. We are, lie added, carrying 011 the necessary business with tliat administration in an unofficial manner, through an agent attached to the Embassy. We are also establishing similar unofficial relations with M. Litvinoff, whom the Bolsheviks had appointed as the Russian representative in London. These arrangements were irregular, but were best suited to the circumstances. We had instructed the Consul-General at Holsingfors to enter into relations with the de facto authorities there.

REPRISAL FOR AIR RAIDS. THE ATTACK OX YARMOUTH. Received Jan. 17, 8.50 p.m. London, Jan. 10. It is presumed the shelling of Yarmouth was a reprisal for air raids on Germany. It is doubtful ■ whether a submarine or cruiser was responsible, as some of the shells were overlarge for a submarine. The vessel dashed past the town, firing ass Bhe went. THE CASUALTIES. .Received Jan. 17, 9.5 p.m. London, Jan. 10. Official: The casualties in the Yarmouth bombardment were four killed and eight injured. Altogether fifty shells were fired. Reuter Service. Received Jan. 17, 8.50 p.m. London, Jan. lti. Three more deaths are reported at Yarmouth.

TRADES UNION MESSAGE. OPPOSED TO ANNEXATIONS, ■ London, Jan. ih. The message of the Trades Union Congress to Russia continues: "YYe adjure the peoples of Central Europe to force their Governments to answer Russia. For ourselves, we appeal to them to renounce annexations in Europe in the same good faith as we renounce them in Asia, and demand that they give Alsatinn, Italian, Polish, and Danish members their states for absolute self-determination as Ru.s- ; ia has given to Finland, Courland, Lit'Jnnia, and Russian Poland."

LOCAL FOOD COMMITTEES. CONSIDER THE RATIONING SCHEME. London, Jan. 15'. Local food committees are considering Lord Rhontlda's draft scheme for rationing butter, tea, and margarina in London on the lines of the sugar achem.?, with special tickets for children. The schema will come into operation on Fjtruary i'i. Rationing in london. Keuter Service Received Jan. 17, 8.50 p.m. London, Jan. 16. The local food authorities in London liave decided on a rationing scheme similar to that for tho sugar tickets, beginning on February 25. MOVEMENT OF FOOD PRICES. Received Jan. .17, 8.50 p.m. London, Jan. 10. At the end of 1017, food prices in Britain were 106 per cent, above those of July, 1914, 'but there has been little increase since July, 1917. NON-FERROUS METALS BILL. London, Jhd. 16. Tn the House of Commons, ilie Hou. A SlanVy accepted an amendment to t'ic Noil-Ferrous Metals Bill, restricting its operation to the United Kingdom ai;d not alleging any business *».iried ou entirely outside the Kingdom

THE DARDANELLES COMMISSION. Received Jan. 17, 8.55 p.m. London, Jan. 10. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law stated that the Government had decided not to publish for the present the final report of the Dardanelles Commission, because it would give valuable information to the enemy. He also stated that the Government had no intention of imposing a tax on capital.