BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15485, 12 January 1916, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

THE NEED FOR MEN. ANTI-COMPULSIONISTS HECKLED. RECRUITING SCHEME REOPENED. GENERAL ELECTION QUESTION. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON. January 10. The week-end meetings. were generally bad for tho anti-compulsionists. Audiences of working men severely heckled Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P. and other Labour leaders, at their meetings. Mr Winstone, who was rejected at Merthyr Tydvil, had a disorderly reception at a miners' meeting at Abersychan. The Nationalists are not expected to take any further action against the Bill, so that opponents on the second reading debate, which commences in the House of Commons to-morrow, will be below fifty.' '

The newspapers are giving prominence to the le-opeuing of recruiting under Lord Derby's group system. The '"Daily News" appeals to single men in rural areas to seizo this last chancc of saving voluntaryism. Tho "Daily Express" demands a general election in order to clear the air.

Oiher newspapers state that the Government will not hesitate to appeal to the electorates if the progress of tho Bill is unduly hampered.

REVIVAL OF RECRUITING

CONVERSION" OF THE MANSION HOUSE. LONDON, January 10. For the first timo in history the Mansion House has been converted into a rccruiting office, the Lord Mayor personally opening it to recruits. The re-opening of the group system has caused a revival of activity at the iccruiting offices, which have been idle since the controversy in tho House of Commons. Most of those attesting are married men. Doubt still prevails amongst single men ■whether compulsion -will be enforced.

THE EXCLUSION OF IRELAND.

REASONS WHOLLY UNCONVINCING. PROTEST TO BE MADE. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun - ' Services.) (Reeived January 11th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. The Dublin correspondent of "The Times" says:—"lrish Unionists find Mr Asquith's excuse for tho exclusion of Ireland from the provisions of the Bill wholly unconvincing. They expect their members in tho House of •Commons to make an effective protest in the Committee stage by moving an amendment extending tho operations of the Bill to Ireland. This feeling is not confined to Unionists. Thoughtful Nationalists fear the effect of Ireland's exclusion on political opinion after the if WBT.

IRELAND'S RESPONSE

PROPORTION OF ENLISTMENTS, SUGGESTIVE FIGURES. (Received January 11th, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. Tn the House of Commons, Mr Birrell, Secretary for Ireland, replying to a question, said, the number of men in Leinster was 174,597, in Ulster 169,489, in Munster 136,637, and in Con naught 81,392. The number of men enlisted to December 15th was: —Leinster, 27,458; Ulster, 49,760; Munster, 14,190; Connaught, 3,589.

[The above figures mean that in Ulster one man in ©very 3 has enlisted, iu Leinster 1 in every 6, in Mnneter 1 in every 9, and in ponnaught 1 in 22.]

OVERSEA FORCES.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOMINIONS. . ESTIMATED AT 836,C00 MEN; • (Received January 11th, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law, replying to Mr R. L. Outhwaite, said that Canada had announced that eho would, mobilise 500,000 men, including those already under arms. Australia, it wag estimated, would have 300,000 men under arms by June, 1916. New Zealand was c-timated to supply about 36,000 men with regular reinforcements.

THE ATTITUDE OF LABOUR.

FRENCHMEN FRANKLY PUZZLED. ("Tim*#" and "Sydney Sub" S«rvic*«.l LONDON, January 10. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" states that the decision of tho British. Labour Conference has frankly puzzled the Frenchmen, who regard, it as a sign of tho ignoranco which still prevails in Great Britain of what is at stake. French labour is gladly bearing many things which in times of peace would have brought about tremendous conflicts between labour and capital. France has mobilised over 7,000,000 men, and is just calling nn for training her eighteen-year-old class. 1

THE RESIGNATIONS

POSSIBILITY OF NONACCEPTANCE. LONDON, January 10. Mr A. Henderson attended a meeting of Cabinet at Mr Asquith's special invitation. It is, therefore, believed that the resignations of Messrs Henderson, Roberts, and Brace have not been accepted. Cabinet lengthily discussed the Labour situation.

ECONOMIC WAR.

POWERFUL WEAPON AGAINST GERMANY. IMPORTANT DEBATE IN THE HOiUSE OF COMMONS. (Received January 11th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. An important debate took place in the House of Commons, on the motion of Professor W. A. S. Hewins (Unionist member for Hereford), urging the advisability of immediately consulting; the Dominions with a view to bringing the whole economic strength of tho Empire to bear against tho enemy, in co-operation with Britain's Allies. Professor Hewins, in moving his motion, said it implied no censure of the Government, but mainly aimed at suggesting methods to shorten the war and to injure Germany's economic policy

as much as possible. The key to Germany's diplomacy was not political, but tho economic subjection of tho countries she now occupied. Tho Government should fully and frankly act upon the resolutions adopted by the Imperial Conference. There should be a further conference of Empire representatives to consult on ways and means to check German designs. Wo should see that the resources of the Empire over which we had a monopoly should no longer be exploited in the interests of our enemies.

Although it was impossible and undesirable to attempt to realise an economic Zollverein of the Empire and =our Allies, it was possible to make suitablo arrangements with those countries. Nothing would so discourage Germany as to make it clear when the war was ove r that securities which are the basis of her paper currency will never have a chance of recuperation. When Germany understood that wo had taken action it would be a material step towards shortening the war.

Mr B. E. Peto (Unionist), in seconding the m6tion. said steps should be taken to arrange with our Allies a policy based entirely upon new treaties, and also to consider the position of neutral countries and the position we should assign to our enemies.

Sir A. M. Mond' said the war was due to tho ambitions and Imperialistic ideas of Germany regardless of economic and commercial considerations. No amount of legislation, tariff jugglery and treaties would deprivo the Germans of tho advantages of their encouragement of scientific and technical knowledge. England's banking system was the greatest bar to her industrial development. The most serious competition after the war would come from America and not from an exhausted Germany, which, with a large proportion of her population gone and her finance in a deplorable condition, could not flood the world with her goods.

Tlie Right Hon. H. Chaplin said that in 1913 forty-eight per cent, of* Germany's exports went to ourselves and our Allies. Therefore, wo had enormous power if we thought fit to use it.

Other speakers urged that the Government should not treat tho discussion academically, but should give the Empire and our Allies a lead.

Mr W. Runciman, in reply, said that, notwithstanding that our imports had gono up, and our exports down, the economic strength of the Empire was so well-founded that we were standing the strain better than tho Central P<&ors. It was clearly by economic pressuro that wo would bo able to persuado tho German Government of the fruitlessness of continuing the struggle. We must dismiss tho idea of Freo .Trade within the Empire, but wo were not prepared altogether to dismjss the idea of a Zollvercin, including our Allies. Tho difficulties, howover, were very great. If a Zollvercin between the Empire and our Allios would end the war we should have a Zollvorein. Wo were prepared to accept any arrangement to bring the war to a successful issue.

Referring to Free Trade within the Empire, Mr Runciman said the policy of the Dominions was nbfc likely to be modified. They wore determined to raiso rbvenue in their own way. We must, therefore, dismiss tho idea of Freo Trade within the Empire. Referencehad been made to the production of raw material in tho Dominions. The control of metals years ago had passed to Frankfurt, which dictated the production of metals, even in tho Dominions. Australia had gone to the length of cancelling, by legislation, every contract in which the metal organisation of Frankfurt was concerned. Regarding the supply -of metals, nothing could be more whole-hearted than the support given by the Dominions. Consequently, wo have an abundance of manganese, tungsten, and wolfram,, whilo the production of spelter was increasing. Tho | Dominions had shown a wondoxful spirit. Ho believed that any suggestions, which might arise during discussions in London would meet with tho same warm-hearted reception.

Wo "were mobilising the whole economic strength of the Empire. During the war, ho believed wo ought to do everything in our powor to injiire and ruin German finance. We should cripple, cramp, squeeze, and destroy her trade. The Board of Trade was looking ahead. Peace might come very much sooner than some people expected. The real trouble was that when the' war hari ended, Germany, beaten on sea and on land,- might wish to embark on a new economic campaign. It was necesgary, in making peace, to see that Germany did not raise her head again.

The House agreed to Professor motion.

\LLIES' TRADE CONGRESS.

WAR ON ENEMY TRADE. GERMAN PRESS "WHINING. (Rcccived January 11th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. The French Minister of Commerce is concentrating his energies on preparations for tho Allied Trades Congress. Ho is determined on tho most aggressive and permanent anti-German commercial treaties.

The German Press has adopted a whining tone. The ''Kolnische Zeitung" says:—"lf Germany's foreign trade is permanently reduced,, the war, notwithstanding that we are victorious, is :i failure." The "Frankfurter Zeitung" ascribes the proposals to the "unscrupulous English." It says:— "The war must not end until the most favoured nation treatment is guaranteed to Germany everywhere.7

SIR GEORGE REID'S TIEWS

(By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 11. Sir Geo. Reid was the guest of the Lord Mayor and the President of the Imperial Industries' Club at a luncheon | at the Mansion House, at which many notables, including Sir Thos. Mackenzie, were present. Sir Geo. Reid referred to the Dominion's response to, the King's war summons, adding that if his Majesty had been entirely responsible for tho honours list his old friend, Sir T. Mackenzie, would have been included long ago. He stressed the necessity of cultivating friendly post-war commercial relations amongst the Allies and the importance of education within the Empire with a view to the retention of the wider development of the trade we now possessed.

SHORTAGE OF MUNITIONS.

COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY NOT DESIRABLE. SIR lAN HAMILTON'S REPORT. (Received January 11th, 10.13 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith said ho did not think it was desirable to appoint a Seleot ConVXuttee to enquire into the shortage of munitions prior t» the establishment of the Ministry of Munitions. He also said it was not desirable to discuss Sir lan Hamilton's report at present.

IN DARKER LONDON.

INCREASE IN STREIiTT FATALITIES. LONDON, January 10. Orring to the darkness of London, the «ticet fatalities last year averaged more than two a day. The newspapers are appealing for the limitation of the r.peed of traffic.

A CABINET* APPOINTMENT,

MR SAMUEL SUCCEEDS SIR JOHN SIMON. LONDON, January 11. The Rt. Hon. H. L. Samuel has been appointed Homo Secretary, in place of Sir John Simon.

A BY-ELECTION

LIBERAL CANDIDATE RETURNED. (Received January 11th, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. The No wing ton (West) by-election resulted as follows: — Gilbert (Liberal) ... 2646 Tcrrett (Independent, and opponent of liquor restrictions) ... >87

OUTRAGES IN AMERICA.

POWDER WORKS DESTROYED, NEW YORK, January 10. The Dupont Powder Works at Carney have been blown up. Eight persons are known to bo dead, and many moro missing.A steamer, which was alongside the docks, was blown partly out of the water.

Two arrests of pro-Germans, who are suspected, have been made.