Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1916. AN ALL-BRITISH EMPIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8406, 23 March 1916, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1916. AN ALL-BRITISH EMPIRE.

The Prime Minister of the Commonwedltli (the Hon. W. M. Hughes), has introduced a new note in the medley of speeches and | controversies marking Great Britain's war campaign. Eloquent, vigorous, and essentially British, his speeches have opened up a new vista for British statesmen, who are discovering that they have something to learn even from one of the nation's younger sons. Mr Hughes has substantial claims, apart from his personal abilities, to speak Avith authority on the Empire's problems, for he is the leading statesman of a country that has provided an army of 270,000 men to help the Empire's cause. •' It is, however, I in his role as a protagonist of the policy of-Britain for the British that Mr Hughes has created most enthusiasm amongst the audiences he has addressed .in London. There is no mistaking the fervour of'his appeal for the expulsion of all .Germans and German influence . ' ' Australia,". he stated, at the Empire Parliamentary Association's lunch, "has, declared. Itsejf "i : fo* .' al policy which shall ,pluck this accursed thing put root and branch, giving us in truth an Anglo-Saxon community. Germany has forfei xed her right to enter our lands on terms of friendship and brotherhood, which she has betrayed.'' The Australian papers to hand. by last week's mail give lengthy cabled accounts of Mr Hughes's speeches, and from these it is clearly apparent that he is somewhat impatient of Britain's kid-glove methods of dealing with the Germans in England. He made a distinct "hit" with his statement regarding the close relationship between' commerce and national safety, and his contention that Great Britain had expended her industrial and commercial prosperity at the .expense, of that safety was received with repeated applause. Mr Hughes was on safe grounds here, for the war disclosed the fact that the vast metal industry of Australia was absolutely under German influence. Lead and zinc, two of the chief constituents of' munitions, actually could not be bought except through a German agency. Mr Hughes does not appear /to be prepared to advocate the abrogation of international law in order to wrest from German firms the privileges they enjoy in British countries. , ; .. ; History has a habit of viewing such .actions from a ■ detached ' and impersonal viewpoint. But it is at least arguable that because the present generation of British people is fighting even more in the interests of future generations than of itself, it is permissible for it to make its own history, moulded on .the basis of. a firsthand knowledge of the facts. Because Germany has. shown contempt for international law is.of course iio excuse for Britain to sink to the same low level ol national dishonour. There is no reason, however, why we. should not make it impossible for the future i citizens of the Empire, and especially in those, portions where minerals abound, to be exposed to the treachery of a race which has shown itself ■ to be devoid of even the most elemental principles of honour and integrity. There is not a phase of Germany's campaign in any theatre of war that has not been disgraced by brutality and treachery and lying, and there will never be any assurance of safety for the British nation unless it for ever bans the members of the race from settlement on, British soil. Mr Hughes has a most difficult task to convince the leaders of British opinion of this fact, for the grooves of commerce are deeply worn. But the overseas Do-

■minions have learned the lesson.! of tlieir betrayal, und instant and'; ■unanimous support is certain for; tlie politician .who formula.tes legislation tliait will keep these favoured lands for ever free from the Teuton taint.