MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

ALLIED WAR COUNCIL. MEAGEENESS OF REPORT, *"'".' London, Feb. 5.. The Daily Slews expresses misgivings at the meagrsness of the report of the Allied War Council. It says that resourceful Allied diplomacy would have seited the opportunity of the unrest in Germany for making an open demon stratum of sympathy with the Russian democracy and assisting the projected International Socialist Conference. ENGINEERS' DEADLOCK. PREMIER S INTERVENTION. London, F»o S It 1b expected that Mr. Lloyd R«org» will endeavor to intervene as a mediator ill the deadlock v.'ith the engineer*. tm IMPERIAL CONFERENCES. 4. SERIES TO BE HELD. Reuter Service. Received Feb. fi, 8.5S p.m. London, Feb. 5. Router learns that in accordance with the general wish expressed last year, and j as a convenience to the Dominion states- ' tricil, their Parliaments will permit a series of Imperial War Cabinets and Imperial \Jfar Conferences to be held in j t/juilon this year in continuation of those held last year, whereat representatives of the Dominions '.vill attend to confer with British Ministers on the I nroMems df the war j

UKRAINE'S SEPARATE PEACE. BRITISH GOVERNMENT IGNORANT OF POSITION. Received Feb. 6, 11.40 p.m. London, Feb. 5. In the House of Commons, Lord Hugh Cecil stated that the Government had no information that Ukraine had concluded a separate peace with the Central Powers-

;lt is understood tl>e Imperial Government is trying to arrange tho date, as tix as possible, to suit the convenience "of all, but nothing definite lias yet been settled either reganlins! Lite date or the statesmen who vrilj attend. i A Renter telegram from Wellington i to-day jHves the first official intimation that, subject to the approval of the Dominion Parliament, Mr. Massev and Sir Joseph' Ward will reprcs?nt New landTHE IMPRISONED AVIATORS. BRITISH THREAT OF REPRISALS London, Feb. 5. Tho Foreign Office has informed Ger many, through Holland, that unless the airmen. Woolley and Seholtz are released from penal servitude immediatelyanft gjfcmr proper treatment reprisal wfll be taken. (Tile British airmen dropped copies of Paftideht Wilson's speech or similar ' propaganda, and were sentenced in GerBaßy to K months' penal servitude.] v COMMUNAL KITCHENS. FOR TJNIVERS*AL USE. London, Feb. 5. Tfce MinistrJ of Food announces the wry establishment of a countrywide dyatiem of communal kitchens owned and managed by the local authorities. The Government is providing 25 per cent, of the initial outlay and guaranteeing 25 per cent, of the initial working expenses. The. kitchens are for the use of all classes. HOSONERS AS TARGETS. Renter Service. Received Pet. 6. 11.40 p.m. V London, Feb 5. In the House of Commons, Mr. J. J. MadjlkeAon, Parliamentary Secretary to the TKar Office, stated that Information laid Veen received that the German authorities had placed officer prisoners in-beauties sntject to air raids- Similar action was contemplated in England. SHIPPING CONTROL CRITICISED. London, Feb. 5. The report of the Steamship Owners' Association criticises the Government control of shipping, which has involved disastrous delays and a substantial fall in imports. The report suggests that the loss of carrying power is considerably in- except of the actual shipping losses. COMPULSORY RATIONING POSTPONED. , Received Feb. 7. 1-30 a.m. London, Feb'. v C In the House of Commons, Mr. J. (R. stated that compulsory ration>Aokfe*d been postponed until Aprikof