MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE GERMAN COLONIES. MUST NOT BE HANDED BACK. Received July 17, 7.30 p.m. London, July 16The Morning Post states: —We are glad to see the Itominions nailing the British colors to the mast. General Smuts, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Maasey, and Sir Joseph Ward alike declare that the German colonies must not be handed back. Sir Joseph Ward's speech of wellweighed words represents the opinion not of a moment's fervor but of years of colonial policy. Time after time the Dominions have insisted on the German danger in the Pacific, but before the war they shouted to deaf ears. We take it that from the manner and matter of Sir Joseph Ward's speech that the Imperial War Conference is agreed upon Ms policy, but there has been some lamentable wobbling. We trust the outspoken words of the Dominions' statesmen will prevent a further backsliding policy of sacrificing our friends to propitiate our enemies—a policy which has already done sufficient mischief.—Press Assoc ENEMY PATENT FEES REVOKED. London, July 16. The Press Bureau states that the Board of Trade has revoked the general licenses which permitted the payment of fees from or to enemies in respect of patents and trade marks. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. RETENTION OP PACIFIC ISLANDS. London, July 16. Lord Sydenham, presiding at the British Empire luncheon, said that whatever pro-Germans might say, the Pacific islands would never be handed back. The soldiers from overseas would hand down imperishable memories and knit the Empire closer. Mr. Massey referred with satisfaction to Mr. Lloyd George's statement that overseas delegates would attend the peace council. CONFERENCE FINISHING ITS WORK London, July 16. The Imperial Conference is meeting twice daily in the hope of finishing its work this week.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. London, July 16. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law confirmed the statement that the Prisoners' Conference at The Hague had reached an agreement, subject to ratification by the respective Governments. The exchange of prisoners in Turkey would be taken up immediately. j QUESTION OF WOMEN MEMBERS. London, Jw 18. . Mr. Bonar Law announced that a conference had been appointed' to consider the admission of women members to the House of Commons, THE PRISONERS' CONFERENCE. Received July 17, 558 p.m. The Hague, July 16. At the final meeting of the Prisoners' Conference, Lord Newton pointed out the difficulty of carrying out an agreement owing to the peculiar circumstances, the chief being the difficulty of transport, as the Germans held by Britain were scattered throughout the globe. He hoped the provisions would be liberally interpreted by both parties,— Reuter. MEDALS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS, Received July 17, 7.30 p.m. I/ondon, July 16. Bars to his Military Medal have been been awarded to Sergeant C H. Kfdman, of the New Zealand Medical Corps. Military Medals have been awarded to fifty-six New Zealanders.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. THE RUSSIAN RESERVOIR. GREAT EASTERN PROBLEM. London, April 17 The Times remarks that far more serious than the loss of ground on the western front is the revelation of the growing weight of the German pressure. The paramount fact is the continued arrival of fresh divisions from Russia, where the great reservoir of Austrian and German troops should engage the attention of allied soldiers and statesmen. It is, says the f paper, deplorable that the changing counsels in London, and misunderstandings elsewhere, should allow the whole weight of the enemy to be diverted from east to west, while nothing was done'to deal with the problem which is not insoluble « The Times adds that unless the allied Governments take steps to stem the stream of German divisions from Russia, where the best opinion is calling for a rally ingpoint, they may have cause three months hence to bitterly regret their want of policy to-day.