Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, 23 August 1917, Page 14

Current Topics

New Light on Constantine Some time ago there appeared in the press of this country a manifesto sent by Constantine to the United States in justification of his policy. In a new book, Turkey and Greece and the Great Powers, Mr. G. F. Abbott has much to say which gives color to the King’s pleading on his own behalf. His comments on the policy of the Allies which found Constantine a hero among his people and left him a martyr is frank to rashness in days when to tell the truth is proclaimed a sign of madness. He points out that both Constantine and Venizelos were actuated by a patriotic desire to serve their country. Constantine was ready to participate with the Allies provided that they planned their Eastern operations with a reasonable chance of success. He opposed the naval assault on the Dardanelles which he and all sane people knew to be impregnable, and offered his whole army to assist in an overland march to Constantinople. If this had been done every man in Greece would have been heart and soul with the Allies. The Russian Debacle Mr. Stead protests vehemently against the injustice of calling the Russian soldiers cowards because they are giving way before the Germans now. He says it is the blackest ingratitude to abuse the men who met von Mackeusen’s wonderful armies with sticks and stones and fought on when they had neither food or arms or ammunition. They are not cowards in any sense. They have made a declaration that they want peace without, indemnities or annexations, and they truly believe that there is nothing to warrant them in fighting an enemy from whom they wish to take nothing. The revival of late was hailed with a joy that was proof enough of the shortsightedness of the critics. No army could fight without a properly organised government behind it, and to hope for a mighty offensive from the soldiers of a disorganised nation was absolutely ridiculous. The fate of the future depends largely on the Russians still. A knock-out blow to them would leave the Central Powers free to mass larger forces on the west on the other hand an attempt at such a blow might have the result of consolidating the Russians and making them more formidable than ever. Rumania It is said that the Rumanian Army has been reorganised and likely to give a good account of itself in the future. However, it must be borne in mind that the disorganisation of Russia also affects Rumania very nearly. Supplies must come over the Russian railways, ammunition must be made in Russian factories, and the guns must come across Siberia. A crippled Russia then means a crippled Rumania. It is estimated by some that the Rumanian Army numbers half a million, but others say that the number is more likely to be about 250,000. The enemy took over 100,000 prisoners last year, and few civilians were able to get away from Wallachia owing to its geographical position. To count on very great help from this quarter until the Russians have shown signs of organisation would at present be very rash. The Military Age in America The American Emergency Army Bill provides that the draft shall be based on liability to. service of every male, who is not an alien enemy, and who is a citizen, or has declared his intention to become a citizen, between the ages of 21 and 30 years. Each State has to contribute its quota. On July 1 there were in the United States 10,078,900 men between 21 and 30. As the number asked for in the first draft is 680,000, it means that only one out of every fifteen is to be called on at present. At present there are about 20,000 men fighting in France. America, having learned by the

mistakes of England and France, will select the men with due regard to the carrying on of the work of the country. - Realising that the men- behind are just as important as the men at the' front the principle of selective draft has been established by the United States. Exemptions will be made through two Boards of Review, one of which is the local board in charge of •the registration in each country. As a further protection to individuals there are other boards which “shall review, or approve and affirm, modify, or reverse, any decision of any local board within their district.” The District Boards are composed of citizens only. No member can be connected with any military establishment. War and British Finance Since the war began Great Britain has raised <£1,124,529,986 by revenue, and has borrowed £3,332,307,389, a total of <£4,446,837,375. This was the figure up to the 28th April of this year. On May 2 Mr. Bonar Law gave the following statistics of loans advanced by Great Britain to the Allies; August 1, 1914, to March 31, 1916, Loans to the Dominions ... ... ... £ 88,000,000 Loans to the Allies ... 288,000,000 Total £376,000,000 1916-17. Loans to the Dominions ... ... ... £ 54,000,000 Loans to the Allies ... 540,000^000 Total £594,000,000 Total to March 31, 1917. Loans to the Dominions ... ... ... £142,000J)00 Loans to the Allies 828’000’000 . Total £970,000,000 It is estimated that for the current year the loans to the Allies and the Dominions will amount to £400,000000. But is may be taken for granted that that figure will be exceeded, as the Allies’ demands have always exceeded British expectations. At present Great Britain is calling on America to help her financially, not merely by buying stock, but by lending her money. ' ° The War Loan In our advertisement columns full details will be found concerning the issue of the War Loan of £12,000,000 at 4i per cent., in the form of inscribed stock or bearer bonds, at the option of the subscriber. It will be issued at par, for a term of 21 years. The subscription list will close on Monday, September 3, 1917. It is a lar&e sum of money to raise in such a short time, but the Minister of Finance relies with confidence on the patriotism of the people of New Zealand, lo do one’s part in helping in this matter is worth all the wordy patriotic effervescence in the country, and there can be little doubt that the people know their duty and will do it. cheerfully. The Dominion has done its part —-and more— sending fighting men to the front. Whether we hold that enough have been sent or not, we cannot but be unanimous in believing that New Zealand can still help largely in other ways. Most of the fighting forces went forward freely, prepared to lay down their lives if necessary, and many of them have done so already, to the eternal glory of New Zealand. Subscribers to the War Loan have it in their power to help the men at the front now. For one reason or another people at home must stay at home, although thousands of them are as keen on getting away as any of those who were able to go. Such people will gladly welcome the opportunity of helping now afforded by the issue of this large War Loan. We have no doubt at all that the Minister’s confidence in the patriotism of the population of the Dominion will be magnificently justified even in the short space of time allowed for subscriptions. Some time ago the Lyttelton Times described our war activities as “A generous sacrifice of men” accompanied by “an orgy of profiteering.” There, is much justification for that

stinging phrase. The poor have done their part nobly. Patriotic collections of all sorts have fallen heaviest on them : indeed, we know many who, for that very reason, have' set their faces against such collections from the very beginning. If there be still people who deserve the censure implied in that remark made by the Lyttelton, Times, the new War Loan now affords them a splendid oportunity to make amends for past slackness. , Lloyd George Again Irishmen are not alone in their views about Lloyd George. Editors are wondering how Mr. Frederic Harrison is at large after his recent outspoken criticism of the doings of the Premier. Here is a sample of what he says in a scathing article in the English Review: ‘‘You have had a blank cheque and a free rein unexampled in history, and all we receive are foolish prophecies and more censorship, plus variations on German cannibalism. The adorer story merely reflects upon our ignorance of German, and has been explained in the best French newspapers as a mistranslation. For goodness sake tell Lord Curzon not to make us all appear ignorant. Ido not speak of your controllers with their lamentable muddles, half measures, orders, counter-orders, and utter failure to control prices. lam thinking of the lack of statesmanship you have displayed and the intelligent recognition of that fact among the general public. But in your position as dictator, disdaining Parliament, you have become a mystic under the screen of the censorship, which has literally supressed intelligent opinion and is rapidly exasperating all good citizens of this commonwealth to the creation of unrest and even dangerous irritation.” In the same strain Mr. Harrison taunts Lloyd George with his empty bragging about delivering a ‘‘knock-out blow” to the enemy at a time when the Times in England, and statesmen in France were admitting that the Allies could not afford just then the heavy lossess of a great offensive, and he accuses him of not telling the people what they were fighting for in plain words. The article is a bold challenge to the Premier. Mr. Harrison has evidently no doubt at all that Lloyd George is the wrong man in the wrong place just now. Irish Affairs Until the result of the conference reaches us we must abide by Mr. Asquith’s advice and wait and see what is to happen. In the meantime there are signs that all is not well in Ireland. The daily papers report the seizure of the arms of the Volunteers from time to time, and, as every one knows, when the Government did not begin at the right end and seize the arms of Carson’s rebels each seizure now is a new aggravation of the situation. The Sinn Feiners stand aloof. Following the lead of Arthur Griffith, they are at present concentrating on securing for Ireland a representation at the Peace Conference, which, of course, England feels would create much awkwardness for her. And there is a general dissatisfaction because the membership of the Convention is not representative of the people at all. In July a mass meeting was held in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, under the auspices of a committee headed by Dr. McHugh, Bishop of Derry. The principal speakers were Ulster priests, labor leaders from Dublin, O’Brienites from Cork. The feeling of the meeting may be gathered from a letter written to the Independent by the Bishop of Derry. In substance he says that Lloyd George’s promise to allow Irishmen a chance to settle their own affairs has been already contradicted by his packing of the Convention. A body of men who, it is expected, will carry out the wishes of the Government, has been nominated, and we are told that this is allowing Ireland to frame a constitution that will satisfy her aspirations. ‘‘The game that is being played, the parties engaged in it, and the stakes on the table, can be a secret only to those who shut their eyes to contemporary events.” But here is the real crux:—‘‘lt is surely reasonable to ask why

the 430,740 Catholics of ; the Ulster six counties marked out for sacrifice, -without p'i anyone to advocate their cause except those who have so. often showed their willingness to barter away their rights and their liberty, should have no representation on the Convention ! Are their rights and their interests of less importance in the eyes of the Government than those of their Protestant neighbors and friends in the South and West? It is a glaring misrepresentation to say that the finding of a Convention into which not a single man is to be admitted by the sanction and voice of the country will represent Irish feeling.” As Dr. McHugh says, there are 430,740 Catholics in the six counties who are absolutely ignored by the Government, while 356,669 Protestants in the South and West have full representation. The Y.M.C.A. Some time ago we noticed the agitation caused by Sir James Allen’s defence of the Y.M.C.A., and the dissatisfaction which his support of a body which is professedly sectarian provoked. Since then protests have been uttered not only by Catholics, but also by Anglicans. In view of the,special treatment accorded to the Y.M.C.A., we think it well to call the attention of our readers to the matter once more. First of all, the Y.M.C.A. is a sectarian organisation. Pule 11., section 3 (Y.M.C.A. of Dunedin) says: “Men who are members in full communion of evangelical churches, who are 18 years of age and upwards, may become governing members of this Association. Only governing members have the right to vote and hold office.” Here we have a clear statement to the effect that no Catholic or Anglican may vote or hold office in the organisation. Writing in America , Father Garesche, S.J., gives the following account of an interview with the General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in Chicago; ‘‘And now may I ask you to give me your frank opinion on the questions opened up, so that I can present these questions to my readers from the standpoint of a Y.M.C.A. official?” ‘‘l shall be very glad to do so. First of all, I wish to emphasise this fact: The Y'.M.C.A. is essentially a Protestant organisation. In my judgment it should remain distinctly Protestant.” ‘T have been assured by one officer of the organisation that if Catholics made a determined and unanimous demand for active membership it would be granted them.” ‘‘l do not agree with that view. So far as I am concerned I would oppose such an attempt. I think the Y.M.C.A. should remain what it always has been, a Protestant organisation. Father Garesche goes on to say that he submitted to the secretary for approval before publication the above account of the interview. On that occasion the secretary assured him that he had since the interview gone into the matter with others among the heads of the Y.M.C.A., and found them in substantial agreement with the opinions he had expressed. In an article published in the Queen’s Work , a number of quotations were cited from the official organ of the Young Men’s Christian Association confirming the assertion that it is primarily a religious association, and that its religion is entirely of a Protestant stamp. In the United States President Wilson has commanded the officers in the army to render assistance and cooperation in the maintenance and extension of the Y.M.C.A. in field and camp. He has knowingly aided a sectarian organisation. Congress has sanctioned the use of public moneys to provide light and heating for its buildings. This money is raised by taxation from the general public. Here is a clear case of support of an organisation that is frankly sectarian by a Government pledged to show no favor to any denomination. If, as is asserted, the support is granted by reason of the efficiency of the Y.M.C.A. in its care for the physical and social needs of the men, apart altogether from its religious aspect, the proceeding seems fair enough. But it will become unfair if the Government refuses to extend similar support to organisations of other deno-

ruinations which equally demonstrate their efficiency in the same field of action. As a matter of fact the United States Government is prepared to do this. A recent, well-authenticated report makes it clear that the President, or rather the War Department, has officially approved of the Knights of Columbus as an agency for work among Catholics, placing it on an equal footing with the Y.M.C.A. To come back to New Zealand again; If the funds and the support granted to the Y.M.C.A. by the authorities here are granted, not because it is a Protestant organisation, but solely because of its efficiency, then, as in the United States, the Government must be prepared to support other organisations, no matter of what denomination, providing that they are efficient agencies for social and physical work among the men. If the Government of New Zealand does not do this it is acting unjustly towards the general public and towards the various denominations which are doing perhaps just as good work among the men as is done by the Y.M.C.A. Similar organisations are controlled by the Anglicans, by the Salvation Army, and Catholics have the Federation, which from the very beginning has done splendid work among the soldiers. When Sir James Allen extends to all these the same patronage as he has extended to the Y.M.C.A. the public will have no reason to complain : until he. does this we have every reason to accuse his department of showing unwarranted favor, at the public expense, to a sectarian organisation.