READY TO SERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1922, Page 5

READY TO SERVE.

NEW ZEALAND’S RESPONSE. A MAGNIFICENT RECORD. GOVERNOR’S APPRECIATION. By Telegraph --Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House to-night, the Premier read the following letter which he received from the Governor-General: Government House, Wellington, September 22, 1922. Dear Mr. Massey,— The events of the last few days have emphasised in a most striking manner the strength of the tie which binds New Zealand to the Motherland and to the remainder of our Great Empire, and as His Majesty’s representative in this Dominion I am anxious to express to you, and through you to the people of New Zealand, my intense admiration of the wonderful response which the first hints of serious danger t<» Imperial interests have brought forth. It seems hardly creditable that, in the absence of any call for volunteers, a total of 12,000 officers and other ranks and 300 nurses should, in the short period of four days, have registered their names for service is required. lam indeed proud to have the honor of association with an outpost of Empire where such a spirit lives, and I tender my heartfelt appreciation and admiration to the people who hold so glorious a record. Yours sincerely, (Signed) JELLICOE'. BRITISHERS IN TURKEY. NO EVACUATION MADE. PROTECTION ASSURED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House this afternoon, the Prime Minister said that in consequence of questions asked him yesterday, he had communicated with the Home authorities and-had received a reply to the effect that no British civilian authorities had been evacuated from Constantinople or Gallipoli. The military and naval authorities could be relied upon to take all measures necessary for the protection of residents. The matter had been referred to the British High Commissioner in Constantinople, and when his reply was received Mr. Massey said the information would be supplied to r the House at once. NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS. OVER TWELVE THOUSAND. \ Wellington, Last Night. The Minister of Defence announced in the House to-day that the total registrations to date in the three commands for service abroad were 790 officers and 11,187 other ranks and 300 nurses, in all 12,277. PROSPECTS FOR PEACE. OPTIMISTIC FEELING IN PARIS. ALLIES IN AGREEMENT. Received Sept. 22, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 21. The French newspapers declare the conference was a real inter-Allied one, and marks a great step towards a peaceful settlement of the Near Eastern question, and to making a fresh peace. The Gaulois is of opinion that peace in the Near East depends on FrancoBritish agreement. Both recognise the necessity for early revision of the Sevres Treaty, which is an open door to new agreements.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Service. TRIBUTE TO ANZACS. FINE RESPONSE ADMIRED. New York, Sept. 21. An editorial in the Evening Telegram, headed “The Anzacs are ready,” says no maudlin pacifist sentimentality prevails among the sturdy whelps of the British lion. With the same response which marked the call to aid in the gigantic crisis of 1914, New Zealand and Australia have replied to the soundings from Downing Street respecting the defence of Christian rule in South-eastern Europe. There is an account to settle in that neighborhood, there is work unfinished near the Dardanelles, which may require attention. The paper adds that if Kemal does not listen to the British warning we are assured that the Anzacs, the corps which never relinquished a position on the Western front, are ready and willing to do it all over again. SEPARATE ACTION DANGERS. EX-MINISTER’S VIEWS. London, Sept. 21. Viscount Grey, in a letter to the newspapers, urges that the immediate .question in the Near TJast is the avoidance of war. The situation can only be met by a real concert between Britain and France, in which Italy would probably join. It was a terrible mistake of the Government to announce -on Saturday its whole scheme of action without previously consulting France. The reply of France was the withdrawal from Chanak. If the British Government eon templates separate action in the Near East we shall be heading for disaster. There must be no repetition of the separate action in Egypt in 1882, which poisoned international relations for 2*2 years.