MR STEAD'S VERSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 8443, 10 August 1911, Page 5

MR STEAD'S VERSION.

INTERVIEW ABSOLUTELY CORRECT,

LONDON, August 9

Mr W. T. Stead has returned from a visit to the Balkans, and affirms the absolute accuracy of his interview with Mr Fisher. He exhibited his letter book showing that printer's proofs of the interview were sent to Mr Fisher on July 1. As^ Mr Fisher did not return them, he assumed that silence gave consent. "When Mr Fisher said, as I perfectly well remember he did say in so many words, that though he did not contemplate any such event, Australia might haul down the flag and start on her own; rather than be involved in an unjust war, he but uttered an obvious truth." Mr Stead cannot conceive .of anyone familiar with Mr Fisher's views finding anything in the interview either novel or original.

Mr Stead said that he made no notes, and never does when he interviews anyone. His recollection of this brief conversation was,perfectly clear, and ho wrote the interview out at once. Mr Stead several times re-affirmed that Mr Fisher used the phrare about hauling down the flag' 1 if it was otherwise impossible to avoid participation in a war which Australia considered unjust. Mr Stead was led to "seek the interview because of Mr Fisher's speech at the Imperial Conference in favour of wider international conferences.