MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1918, Page 7

MOTHER COUNTRY.

... RIGHTS OF THE DOMINIONS. STATEMENT BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE London, July 14. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at a dinner given by the Ministry of Information to the Canadian editors, paid a tribute to Canada's part in the war and' the achievements of Canadian soldiers at the front. Since the beginning of the 1 war Canada had manufactured 55,000,000 eliella and 45,000,000 cartridges. One of the results of the war would be a real change in the character of the British Empire, "This," said Mr. Lloyd George, "is a war in which we engaged the Dominions without consulting them, because there Was no time to do so. It is true that the Dominions had approved our policy of protecting the small States in Europe. Henqeforth you have the right to he consulted beforehand. The contributions yen have made to enforce our treaties give you an undeniable right to lave a voice in the fashioning of Hie policy which may commit you. .For that reason the Imperial War Cabinet is a reality; . there the Dominions' representatives sit With other representatives of the British Empire, and consult and decide under absolutely equal conditions. That is making a great change in tie history of the Empire. You must have a voice in the settlement of peace conditions. The War Cabinet has discussed our war aims and conditions on which we are prepared to make peace. We arrived at an agreement on this subject last year with the representatives of the Dominions, but Tve shall reconsider some of the problems in the light of events that lhave occurred since. "I have no doubt that in the course of the next few weeks Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Newfoundland will determine the conditions under which they are prepared to make peace. Unless I am mistaken, we aro pretty well in agreement that there must be no humbugging'peace. We as a whole have lost hundreds of thousands and had millions maim,ed, and we have not made these sacrifices jn order to establish a fraud upon the earth. Anything less than a real peace would be defrauding, not this generation, but the next, and also defrauding humanity." INTERNMENT OF ALIBNS DEMANDED. London, July 13. A mass meeting in Trafalgar Square passed a resolution demanding that all aliens of enemy blood should be immediately interned; also the removal of such aliens in every Government and public office, also protesting against the inadequacy of the Government's proposals. The meeting refused to hear Mr. Jones, M.P., who declared that the Government's proposals would go a long way to settle the matter. The National Federation of discharged | and demobilised soldiers and sailors ( marched in procession from the Thames i Embankment to Hyde Park with banj ners inscribed, "Intern them all; comb them out." Speakers demanded increased allowances for disabled men and larger pensions for dependents.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. , LABOR AFTER THE WAR. London, July 13. Mr. Roberts (Minister of Labor), speaking at Plymouth, emphasised the importance of decentralisation on the usefulness of the Government's labor exchange system after the war, so that there shall be no repetition of the spectaclo of discharged soldiers on the street, hawking or becoming pavement artists. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, MINERS' DEMANDS. London, July 13. The Mimes' Federation meeting at Southport passed a resolution in favor of increasing the old-age pension to 15s weekly, the reduction of tho age limit to 60, aUo the elimination of the military spirit form of physical drill in elementary schools. Soldiers and sailors must be paid 6s daily. The federation approved of replacing separate district conciliation boards by national boards for regulating wages in all districts. This change is regarded as the most fateful in the history of the federation. It is pointed out tlmt the federation's recent policy has consistently followed national lines. The federation resolved to demand a sis-hour day after the war and six days' pay for five days' work.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ANOTHER BANKING COMBINE. London, July 13, The Treasury has sanctioned the amalgamation of the London Joint Stock Bank with the London City and Midland. The combined deposits amount to nearly 300 millions, and it will be by far the -largest banking institution in Britain.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

POLICY IN* tPACIFIC. London, July .14. Mr. W. M. Hughes, Federal Premier, speaking at the Pilgrim's Club, reiterated that Australia's policy as regards Germany's possessions in the Pacific was inexorably "Hands off the Pacific." These islands stretched like a barrier across tlio routes to other lands, and whoever commanded the islands commanded the routes also. Australia could not agree to a peace I Tvliieli would permit JS'cw Guinea to be returned to Germany. The Pacific was going to bo the scene of many international complications and racial problems, and, until Germany was democratised, j she must not be permitted to cast the shadow of despotio rule over the lands whose development depended on freedom. Australia's policy carried great and grave responsibilities, but slie was prepared to fight on. until victory was assured, He was also sure that America would put her vote against German influence in the Pacific.—Aus. N.Z. Cable j Assoc, I LABOPv ON PEACE. London, July 13. Mr. Henderson, speaking at the Northampton conference of labor organisations, said that five replies had been received from Socialists in enemy countries to the memorandum conveying the resolutions passed by the inter-Allied Socialist Conference in February. The Bulgarian Socialists accepted practically all the general points concerning Macedonia. The Hungarian Socialists, also the German Minority Socialists, had submitted to the Stockholm, committee of the International Socialists' Conference a statement of policy much on the lines of the inter-Allied memorandum. The Austrian Socialists accepted the principles of the inter-Allied memorandum as a basis for discussion. They endorsed the federal system for AustriaHungary, and agreed to the suggestion for federation of the Balkan States. They declared that they repudiated the Brest Litovsk and Roumanian peace treaties, and agreed that the solution of the Italian, Polish, colonial, and AlsaceLorraine questions must conform with the desires of the people concerned. The German Majority Socialists drew up a document which they entrusted to Toelstra to present to the British Labor Conference, but the action of the British. Government in refusing Troelstra permission to land prevented this document reaching Britain. However, a summary had been received showing that the German Majority Socialists were ready to take part in an International Socialist Convention on tli&basis of the proposals which the neutral Stockholm Socialists had drawn up. Tbey also accepted practically all the general principles of the inter-Allied memorandum, and were ready to discuss the responsibility for the war, though they did not believe any good could result from such a discussion. They were prepared to discuss the question of Alsace-Lorraine, believing that an amicable solution was possible, and they agreed to the necessity for complete restoration of Belgium's independence. They declared that a league! of nations was necessary to destroy Imperialism and prevent aggression. Mr. Henderson contended that the replies justified the demand for facilities for holding an International Socialists' Conference, which would help to clear away misunderstandings and misconceptions and strengthen the will for peace in enemy countries. A conference would show the people of the Central Empires that their rulers misled and deceived them, and would not attempt to negotiate for peace or take binding decisions.— Aua. N.Z. (Cable Assoc.