MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

MAN-POWER SCHEME. {■KIlklBR .REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. (JRRMAN GOVERNMENT MUST . . • REPRESENT PEOPLE. QUESTION OF NEGOTIATIONS. London, Jan. 20. lir. Lloyd George, after his speech, invited, and answered numerous questions regarding the advisability of negotiating With the -Germans when the latter were alleged to be whining and squealing for p'eacei H%feplied that the Germans were always ready for peace at their own price, whwfi : we3?«re not prepared to pay. The moment .$e Germans showed a disposition to. negotiate on equitable terms | there would'be no reluctance to negotiate., t Aikid whether it would not he the best 'way of ascertaining the opinion of the German people to allow British representative to meet representatives of other Powers at Stockholm or elsewhere, he replied pointing out that the German representatives would be chosen by the Government. '■You can,"'he "said, "only make pence with a government. If the Government does not represent the people of Germany' let them change it, and if this Government does not represent the people of this country then you can change it.' A delegate interjected: ''Give lis an opportunity.", My. Lloyd. George replied: "We have givep, you the best opportunity in the Frajlchise Bill by adding eight millions to tKe electorate. You c-Rn have tiie opportunity any time you like." The Premier was c* ilerably heckled regarjliHg bis objections to an International Workers' Conference apart from the Government?. He reiterated that all the Allies and America had agreed that negotiations could only be conducted by representatives of the Governments, not by sections of the people. Mr, Lloyd- George emphasised the difficultly <jf deciding when it was desirable .to enter ft Peace Conference without putting,one's head into a noose. He wai convinced that a conference at present would aggravate and not improve matters. k delegate him whether President Wilson's reference to the freedom of the seas was according to the views of the British Government. The Premier replied emphasising that Britain was in a different position from America or any Continental country. We must guard most carefully against any attempt to interfere with our capacity to protect our shores, shipping and over-/ seas communications. A delegate asked whjit was meant by the reconsideration of the position of Alsace and Lorraine. The Premier replied that the British people would stand by France,, who considered peace impossible till the question of Alsace and Lorraine was settled. • Official correspondence shows Miat the Amalgamated Society of Engineers has declined to participate in the man power conference. The Government declined to Co unlit it separately.

FOOD ECONOMY URGENT. f i CLASS ANTAGONISM 'DEPRECATED. London. Jan. 19. Lord Bhondda, speaking at the Aidwyeh Club, said that, without wishing to alarm the public, we had reached the state that Germany reached two years ago. Now her position was perilous. He* deprecated attempts to set class against cfetss. The rich and middle-classes had responded more generously to economy appeals than tbe wage-earners. There was no evidence that the fanners were deliberately withholding supplies. He concluded that there was no prospect of amgpt fwnfne stub' as affected Germany, bufrvfeßtight economise more in meat for l^bVitSHOi