NEW WAR CLOUDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1919, Page 12

NEW WAR CLOUDS.

OMINOUS STATEMENT BY LORD CURZON. Earl Curzon, member of the War Cabinet, made a grave statement in the House of Lords recently when the new Bill for the extension of conscription until April 30, 1920, which has been passed by the Commons, was discussed. Lord Buckmaster, in opposing the Bill, asserted that in principle it ran counter to lons-cherished traditions of the country and was hostile to the feelings: and opinions sincerely entertained bv a large body of people. There was no doubt, as Mr. Churchill had admitted, that it was a direct and flat violation of pledges given by responsible Ministers at the election. For all practical purposes, the war had ended on November 11. In his opinion the British Navy could enforce the terms of peace more effectively than any army of occupation-

Earl Curzon (Leader of the House) said that Ixird Buckmaster spoke only for a small and insignificant minority of people. Was Lord Buckmaster sure that the \vo,r really ended on November 11? Was he so sure that the conditions of war might riot again revive? He (Lord Curzon) had no such confidence. Ho saw clouds hanging over the horizon that might burst upon it at any moment in a form even more sinister than anything they had yet seen. He could not "accept the noble lord's contention that there was no justification for the maintenance of the force contemplated by the Bill. Lord Buckmaster had asked: How about the British Fleet There were manv parts of Europe not accessible to the Navy. Shakespeare once thought that Bohemia had a seaport. If Lord Buckmaster thought that any trouble which might break'out in Germany could be effectively controlled by our fleet in the Baltic without the pre- [ scnce of an army, Lord Curzon said that lie helcl a view that was not shared by any responsible naval or military authority. It was absolutely necessary that our forces in the Middle East should be maintained for some time, and if the noble lord could show the Government how to govern Ireland without maintaining 40.000 men in that country he would bo conferring a groat favor on 'them. For the purpose of guarding the Empire and securing the fulfilment of the peace terms, the Government proposed to keep an army of only 050,000 combatants. Proceeding, Karl Curzon observed that Lord Buckmaster said he had no confidence in Mr. Churchill, and. in describing that gentleman's abilities, he had employed a wealth of language almost as inexhaustible as that of his victim. (Laughter.) He seemed to think that the Cabinet were incapable of keepin? Mr. Churchill in order. The noble lord was in a Cabinet of which Mr. Churchill was a member, and ho could not recall that Lord Buckmaster had made anv attempt to keep Mr. Churchill in order. He utterly declined to admit that all virtues and capacity went out of the Government when Lord Buckmaster left it. They need not bo afraid that the War Cabinet would be led astray by Mr. Churchill. The Bill was read a second time without a division.