BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15746, 13 November 1916, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

NEUTRALS REASSURED. MR ASQriTII'S PROMISE. (By Cable. —rr«s* Association.- Copyright.) ' (Reut«r'« Tele2T*m».) (Received November 12th. p.nO LONDON. November 10. Jn the course of his speech at the Guildhall, Mr Asqtiitb, in dealing with the German propaganda in neutral countries, said that it- had boon suggested in those countries that the Allies had the sinister design, after the war. to combine aguinst them and build u]> an impenetrable stone wall nguinst their trade. "This," he sa-id. "is a child i>h fiction. If it were true, it would mean that we were, one and all bent, on economic suicide. Nothing will be more essential to the Allies after the war than to maintain tho best industrial and financial relations with neutrals." ENEMY TRADE. PROiILL?ITION UKC'OM^IENDED. (Australian and X.Z. Cibl« Association.) (Received November 12th, >>~> p.m.) LONDON November 11. The Exchange Telegraph Company states that it understands that Lord Balfour of Rurlcigh's interim report will probably bo in favour of the prohibition of the import of enemy goods for » fixed period after the war. Members of the Commission are divided upon the question of the duration ot tho prohibition, some favouring a year and others a shorter period. ARMY CANTEENS. (Received November 12th, o.u p.m.) LONUON, November 11. The Army Canteens Committee i: abolishing tho odntract system and es tablishing more comfortable and attractive con teens at an initial outlay of £2,000.000. ALLIED UNITY. CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY. IMPRESSIVE SPEECHES.

CA.uctra.lJan and N.Z. Cable Asiocia.iou.y LONDON. November 10. At the Lord Mayor's banquet ilr H. L. Samuel, Postmaster-General, m proposing the toast of tho Allies, s: ald ; "Roumania is entitled to. and is receiving tho full and energetic support of the Allies. The German attack seems to have "been successfully staved off. Although wo have not yet won tho war, we can claim that it is certain that we will gain the ultimate victory. The proposal to establish an Inte'national Peace League is an ideal, l>ut such a league already exists, namely, tho league of the Allies." M dambon, Ambassador for France, in tho course of his roply said:— Ilie tenacity and endurance of tho Allied troopw, and the calmness of tho Allied ' Governments, upset tho calculations or tlie enemy, who counted uqpn divisions. Wo don't know when the war will finish, but we do know that the enemy no longer dominates tho situation. If wo aro tranqnil and patient wo may Ixs certain that the Now Year wLil not falsify our hopes of victory." Mr A. J. Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, absolutely denied that tho Navy had accepted a passive role. Tho enemy refused to allow hiß ships to meet ours. The Admiralty was unable to promise that tho Navy could alwayß prevent tho occasional raids which disgusted the country. Tho Admiralty * could not say that they would not bo repeated, but the Germans would always run great risks, and it was improbable that they would repeat tho recent -dash and get away without heavy disaster. Viscount French said tho climax of

tho war would be reached next spring, but tho climax would not necossarilv mean that the end would bo in sight. Mr Asquith, referring to tho massacre of the Armenians, said: "Germany is master of Turkey. By lifting up a finger sho could have prevented the organised campaign of outrage and massacre, but she' looked on unmoved and acquiescent." Mr Asquith added that he would not attempt to review the naval and military situation. Our Fleet was remote and unadvertised, hut it wa3 vigilant and omnipotent. It maintained an ever-tightening grip upon the inlets of the enemy's supplies. Tho Army was ever gaining ground, never yielding an inch. •Ho paid a tribute to the efforts of Franco, Russia, Roumania, and Serbia. "In regard to Grcece," said Mr Asquith, "I wish I could speak with confidence. Whatever drastic measures aro taken by tho Allies will be dictated solely by the necessity for preventing Athens from continuing to be a centre of German propaganda and intrigue. I say quite frankly that wo arc in hearty sympathy with the great Greek patriot, M. Venizelos, who has assured 11s that, his efforts have no antidynastic purpose. This is a war for tfio emancipation of the smaller States. It •is impossible for Greece to stand aloof in such a conflict- When peace comes nothing will be moro essential for the Allies than to establish and maintain tho best industrial and financial relations with the neutral Powers. There can be no question of a separate peace. Peace can only come on condition that tho war, with its waste and sacrifices and untold sufferings, its glorious and undying examples of courage and unselfishness shall not have been fought in vain. The struggle will tax all our resources, and the whole of our stock of patience and resolve, but the peace which must be achieved must be built on sure and stable foundations, {riving security to tho weak, liberty to Europe, and a freo future for all "the world."