MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

BRITAIN WILL NOT RECEDE. FROM HER STATED WAR AIMS. ENORMOUS GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. London, Feb. ]3. Mr. Lloyd George, referring to Counts Czernin's and .Hertluig's peace terms, said lie found nothing in the speeches which lie regarded as proof that the Central Powers were prepared to accept peace on just and reasonable terms. Britain would not recede from her stated war aims. Our regrettable duty was to go on with the preparations necessary to establish international right in the world. Referring to ihc War Council, lie said he *onld not give the information Mr. Asquitb asked for. The Allies had had an overwhelming superiority on the west front, but the superiority 'had rapidly diminished, especially during tlif last few weeks.-Till this year there was no attack the Germans could bring against the British or French armies wliieh could not be dealt with by the resources of each army. The situation had been (onpictely changed by the enormous Gicrman reinforcements from the east- Tile Council dealt with a situation where it was absolutely essential that the whole strenatb of' the Allied armies should he made available at the point at which the attack came. The Allies would treat their armies as one to meet; the danger. The Council bad established complete unity.. The powers conferred on the Council could not he stated .vithnnt disclosing miiuiry secrets of the first magnitude. CRiSiS. POUTHViL ATMOSPHERE AGITATED. London, Fell. 15. TJie Daily Chronicle fays that, tiu political atmosphere n agitated by rumors of military resignation* wd J. ,/0.. aiblo ministerial crisis. It was significant that Mr. LJoyd George twice refcrre'i to a. possible change in the r.c'.iniinstr".tion. C?.mC!3':.l OF THE GOVfR\. LED BY MR. AKQUITH. London. Feb. IS. Mr. Asquitb, in the debate on the A-d----dres's-in-Raply, afte? paying the highest tribute tc. Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson, declared" that the (Imfidcnce of the nation and Empire in them was in nowise shaken. (Cheers). He asked the Government to define the recent onlr.rgcmejit of the functions of the inter-Allied War Council, also whether any change had been made or contemplated in the status, personnel or functions of Sir Douglas Haig or General Robertson. Mr- Asquitb concluded by emphasising the necessity of complete' confidence in jhe system whereby we were carrying on the war of perfect harmony between the Government and its servants. Parliamentary correspondents state that a new challenging note of criticism and hold disposition to assert the authority of the Howe was perceptible throughout.the debate on the Address. The House was obviously disappointed tiiat Mi. Lloyd George did not disclose the nature of the enlarged functions of the Versailles Council. Mr. Asquith's indignant' protest against the Premier's insinuation evoked a storm of applause, which was led by Mr. Lloyd George's Riwlical enemies," who are increasingly numerous- It was significant that the cheers seemed general. Mr. Lloyd George quite failed to repeat his parliamentary triumph of November.

The subsequent debate emphasised the same note of criticism of the Government and Mr. Lloyd George. Several members asked why Colonel Repington was allowed to publish criticisms in the Morning Post.

IMPERIAL WAR COUNCIL. STATEMENT BY LORD CURZOX. London, Feb. 13. In the House of Lords, in the- course of the debate on the Address-in-Rcply, Lord Curzon said that the Imperial War Conference marked an important step in the constitutional development of the Empire. Geographical conditions prevented frequent meetings, but the prosecution of tin- war, the supply of men, peace and post-war conditions were maters concerning which we should be gainers by deliberating with our overseas fellow-subjects.

He paid a tribute to the type of the Dominion soldier and Indian soldiers seen daily in the streets.

The success of the Palestine expedition was regarded throughout the world as the expiation of the affront Christiana had endured for centuries and a sacred 'symbol of coming victory. (Cheers). All loped that Palestine would never be allowed to revert to the Turks. The Arabs had assisted us to inflict heavy defeats on the enemy.

Lord Curaon, continuing his speech, said that all must sympathise with "Ronmania. TTcr position was not due to the failure of her western Allies, but to her ccosrnphisal isolation since she had keen deserted by Eussla.

In France our position was one of evpectaney, hut the Allies h»d men to meet the onslaught, an <l munitions equal to {hose of the enemy's, Our moral had never been higher. (Cheers). The Versailles Council had justified the most sanguine expectations. It was inevitable that the militnrv representatives at Versailles should be the beat and invested with greater power as time went on. They had to deal efficient]!* and promptly with a situation which did not ahvavs permit of reference to distant Governments T np susnicions revealed against t'" l fm-ncil were without foundation T\cpnt no rcrrnrds "vlitarv dispositions '*■■ "xeciitivo function? not been modified* *