ENGLAND CHIEF SINNER

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 5

ENGLAND CHIEF SINNER

IK EMPIBE DISINTEGRATION. MB. HUGHES SO UK PS THE TOCSIN. ORGANISATION ESSENTIAL. LONDON", March 1«. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. W. M. Hughes, was entertained at dinner by the British Imperial Council of Commerce* Lord Desborough presided. Hughes, in the course of a speech, declared that the war would decide whether force or law should rule the world. After referring to "the fact that British industry was honeycombed with German enterprise, and to the difficulty of cutting out the roots of this cancer, he eaid they must not only destroy this evil, but they must build up Britain's post-war trade. The policy of the British Empire, he continued, did not consist of consideration of Britain alone. There wore the great overseas Dominions, which had vast territories to develop and great interests to develop. There would be great interests to consider in a-quarter of a century. The present rate of increase in population in the Dominions was. not far short of the increase in Britain itself. In half a century they would have outstripped her. The Dominions desired advice as to fulfilling their great destinies hand, in hand with each other and with Britain. Britain's post-war policy was of vital importance to the Dominions. The details of this policy, said Mr. Hughes, could not be settled during the war, but would have to be postponed. They could decide upon the broad principles, however. WE MUST ORGANISE. The public mind was now plastic. The scales had fallen from their eyes. They were able to distinguish the essentials from the trivialities. What he was advocating was not merely a change of fiscal policy, not necessarily tariff reform, though this would probably follow, but a fundamental change in the ideas of government. The whole conception of modern statesmanship needed revision. England had been and was still the chief sinner. Germany to-day was the best organised nation in tlie world. Before the war she was the only organised nation. Britain mu3t organise her trade' and defence for the preservation of the world's peace in the future and the protection of the weak from the strong. SAVED BY IXOYD GEORGE. Mr. Hughes paid a tribute to the great efforts in organisation made, by France and Britain since the war began. "We were crumbling on the edge of destruction," he said, "when Mr. Lloyd George took the munitions question in hand. Thanks to his" great labour, we can now breathe more easily. The British Xavy has saved us from an awful gulf of destruction. In fact, it has saved the civilised world. Miracles do not repeat themselves. Let us take the solemn lesson to heart and put asire all party and class doctrine without delay, , uud —devise™-air-Empire policy" covering every phase of national, economics and social life. Let us no longer pursue-a policy of drift, but set sail on a definite course." MISSIONARY CAIX. SAMSON AND THE PHH.ISTINES. ACCLAIMED BY THE FRE*. (Beceived 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March IC. Mr. Hughes, in the course of his remarks at the Council of Commerce dinner, declared that the cutting out of the cancer of German trade was no task for weaklings. "It is," he said, "only by the most supreme effort that we can take advantage of this tremendous opportunity. Many wisfc England to win, but do not wish it so much that they .are prepared to regard everything else, not only life, but wealth and busiriess, as dross* But that is the_only spirit by which victory can be won. The policy of leaving the broad principles of this great question until after the war is a phantom that will lead to destruction." Mr. Hughes said that what he suggested was an economic revolution, but the Empire must face and settle the question. The British policy of laissez faire vnm no more suited to "the present circumstances than, the savage's blowpipe was fitted to face the Nordenfeldt gun. The change involved'more than a change. It involved a selfcontained Empire. ' Since the war began, owing, to the Navy, we had had time to make good the almost criminal neglect of the past. ,lf Great Britain had ' listened to Lord Roberts, and had been as ready" on land as .on the sea, in all probability the. peace of the world would never have been broken. DOMINIONS WELCOME. Mr. Herbert Samuel, "Home Secre llry, in replying to the toast of '"Thi

Imperial Ministry,"said the Government was unshakable in its./confidence as to the ultimate result ,ot the war. The Government felt confident that tbe Dominions would rally to. the flag, and , that confidence was fully justified. " There was a widespread feeling that after the war it would be.impossible to enter again into friendly trade relations with the enemy; but before Parliament undertook the remodelling ' of trade L relations, a great number of difficult c problems required consideration, which d was now being given them. The Government had to consider not only co» mercial, but constitutional, questions He thought the present constitution o! the Empire could not be its final form n For himself be would say ' that th< n Mother Country would be very ready t< o admit the Dominions to a share in the decision as to the future, policy as soor as the Dominions were reedy. "It is nof impossible that, we will be able to creatt a true organic union of the Empire with out detriment to the freedom of each oi '* its parts," concluded Mr. Samuel. V, WHAT THE PRESS THUfKS. 'y The "Times" saye that Mr. Hughe speech had all the' qualities of'true statesmanship, and suggests that the Government should ask.him to go to c- Paris to attend the conference ,on 10' economic questions, though the to of Canada,. New Zealand and. South :a Africa might think-it invidious if they is were not represented. a •■■ S y The '"Daily Chronicle," N in a leader d J describes the speech as a strong and "I almost a missionary plea for a *atuma ,d Imperial organisation and a fundamental change in the current ideas of government a* »PP lied to economical and

national matters. His natural vmfamiliarity with internal British politics tends to make the application of his theory less striking than the theory itself. The "Evening Standard," in an amusing leader, headed "Samson and the Philistines," warns Mr. Hughes not to lose the precious quality of virility, and says: "Civilisation has advanced so far that it does not kill dangerous statesmen, but dines them and dazzles them with fair women instead; but Mr. s Hughes knows, as Mr. Asquith does not, that a gigantic dumping scheme is being elaborated to enable Germany to recover {J her lost markets. The social engines . are already mobilised against him, but we hoiie he will not be perturbed by the £ seductions of Mr. L. Harcourt, the First Commissioner of Works." LEASES FROM OVERSEAS. t The "Evening Standard" also remarks that the British people were looking for an inspiration from their own leaders, and found it at last in '"this visitor from the Antipodes." ~ The "Westminster Gazette" remarks fl that Mr. Hughes said nothing with v which we cannot all agree, but there is a danger of these splendid aspirations being interpreted in certain schools as | an endorsement of their narrow policies. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says the t speech is the boldest, most imaginative, j and most clear-sighted utterance on an ~ important question since Mr. Joseph Jj Chamberlain retired. j The "Daily Chronicle's" Melbourne { correspondent cables that the Coalition Minister's speeches published in Australia, conveying the intention to con- j sider a scheme for closer politicalTinion , between Australia and the Motherland, " have caused alarm in political circles, j lest Mr. Hughes should encourage it. , Mr. Hughes declined to comment on the - matter.