MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

DIPLOMACY AND PEACE. STATEMENT BY MR. BALFOUR. IN REPLY TO lIERTLTNG. SOME COGENT ARGUMENTS. Received March 1, 12.40 a.m. Lqndou, Feb. 27. Mr. Balfour, replying to criticisms regarding the Government not using diplomacy in the interests of peace, said that diplomacy was out of court, unless some measure of potential agreement existed, making diplomatic conversations fruitful of- good results. All indications showed that they had not reached that happy stage. There was no clear direction wherein the sunlight of peace could make itself felt. The time may come soon, but we would be deceiving ourselves if we took a sanguine view in the face of Baron Hertling's speech. There was onlyone course for Germany to pursue, and that 'was to say ''l have sinned," and next to say "1 will make reparation, and restore without conditions what I have taken." Germany's idea of freedom and frontier security always meant commercial trammels on ' her weaker neighbor and the appropriation of territory. After dealing with other of Baron Hertling's statements, Mr. Balfour declared that England did not use the balance of power "for self aggrandizement. She fought only because by so doing Europe was to be saved from the domination of an overpowering and aggressive nation. England, in upholding the balance of power, saved Prussia from destruction, and later helped her to recover her independence against Napoleon. It ill became German statesmen to deride England's efforts for balance of power until German militarism was abolished, and an international court, with executive powers, established for the protection of the weak. It was impossible to ignore the principles underlying the balance of power. If Baron Hertling could induce his-coun-trymen to give up the policy of ambitions world domination, peace would come now and for ever. Referring to Baron Hertling's statement that Germany's policy in the East was directed to preventing 'atrocities and devastations, and the upholding of humanity, Mr. Balfour pointed to the fact that the. German policy in the west was entirely occupied by atrocities and devastations. We were ready to stand our trial at the bar of humanity, side by side with Germany. While Ger'mam- was determined to have the rest of the civilised world creeping at her feet, it was difficult to conduct such diplomatic conversations, which must be the prelude to peace, for which no one longed more than curselves. Conversations which began and ended in d.isc-, r d were worse than non: at all. To begin negotiations without seeing the way to a successful termination would be the greatest crime against a tutnre peace. The negotiations must be preceded by a closer approximation of ideas, and he would be injuring the cause of peace if he encouraged the hope that these verbal communications were useful, until a general agreement was apparent in the distance, and statesmen of all countries see the way to settlement. MAN POWER SCHEME. MINERS BALLOT AS TO COMB OUT. Reuter Service. Received Feb. 28, 8.25 p.m. London, Feb. 27. The Miners' Conference in London decided on a ballot of all members on the proposal to comb out 50,000 miners for the army. It is understood the conference was fairly evenly divided fori and against its immediate acceptance. I Another resolution in favor of peace negotiations received small support. NUCLEUS OF JEWISH ARMY. PROCEEDING OVERSEAS. Received Feb. 28, S.lO p m. New \ r ork, Feb. 27. A Jewish contingent has teen drawn from various cities and sworn into the British Fusiliers. It is proceeding overseas to join the Zionists and form the nucleus of a Jewish army. LABOR PARTY'S CONSTITUTION. London, Feb. 27. i, The adjourned Nottingham Conference of the Labor Party resumed its sittings at Westminster to consider the new constitution. Two hostile amendments by the Independent Labor Party were defeated and a Socialist amendment preserving the Independent Labor ,I'arty s r'Cparate representation on tlie executive was rejected. RUSSIA AND ROUMANIA. FINAL FATE AWAITS FINAL PEACE. Received Feb. 28, 7 p.m. London, Feb. 27. Mr. Balfour, in the House of Commons, stated that the Government intended the final fate of the Russian provinces, Roumania, and Armenia to be settled at the final peace, despite any peace now forced on Russia or Roumania. SHIPPING OUTPUT DISAPPOINTING. OWING TO LABOR TROUBLES. Router Service. Received Feb. 23, I0.K) p.m. London, Feb. 27. In the House of Commons, Mr- Bonar Law stated that the output of ships in January and February was very disappointgin, largely owing to labor troubles. The Government were informing the shipyard workers of the seriousness of the position, with the o'lject of convincing them that their work was as vital as fighting. When thev realised that there'would he no cnvhiiiits that shipbuilding was decreasing because themen ware not working their hardest-