BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16119, 25 January 1918, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

" : THE LABOUR *

CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE

DELEGATES

and K.Z. C«ble Association.) (Received January 24th. S.lO p.m.) LONDON, January 23.

Mr Purdv, in his Presidential address to' the Labour Conference at Nottingham, said: ''Peace, by negotiation while Germany occupies foreign territories, would mean a German victory. If Germany does not accept. President Wilson's and Mr Lloyd George's terms we must fight on. Germany can then no longer claim to bo fighting a defensive war. There is cot yet any sign that the enemy is willing to accept Mr Lloyd George s, President Wilson's, or Labour's principles. Will the German democracy define its war aims and face the Government as we have faced our Government? The way is open to Germany, if the German people and Government sincerely desire a just peace. The present conditions mean the fastening of militarism stronger on the people of Germany, the peoples of the British Empire and of the world. "We must have a clean peace, and if this is only obtainable by fighting we must go on fighting to the end." Herr Huvsman, Secretary of tho International Socialist Bureau, said that if the moderate, democratic war aims of the Labour Party were presented at an international Labour conference, then the Austro-German Labour Party would be compelled to declare its "war aims, and if a general ■agroreir.'ent .transpired fighting would be paralysed. WAR AIMS SPEECHES WELCOMED (Iteuter's Tclograms.l (Received January 25th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 23. At the Labour Conference, Mr Arthur Henderson moved a resolution J welcoming Mr Lloyd George's and President Wilson's war aims, and state- J ments so far as they harmonised with : Labour aims, and requesting the Allies to formulate their aims as early as pos- I sible, in order that tjiey may be juxta- ] posed with a similar statement which the democracies in enemy countries will bo requested to make. j The resolution was practically unani- I mously carried. | AGREEMENT WITH THE BOLSHEVIKS. (Received January 24tli, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. j Mr Arthur Henderson, in his circa- j lar to the Labour delegates, after recapitulating Labour's war aims, adds: "Ail the Socialist parties in Europe now agreo with the Bolsheviks, so does President Wilson's published statement." LIT VINO FF DEFENDS THE BOLSHEVIKS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—^CopyrightJ azid X.Z. C<tblo Association.) LONDON, January 23. Sir George Cave (Home Secretary), replying to Mr C. P. Trevelyan (Liberal, West Riding of \orksirire), said that the police had raided the premises of the British Socialist Party and seized leailcts intended for distribution at tho Labour Conference at Nottingham, containing the party's views or Labour's policy, and a message from M. Litvinotf (Bolshevik representative in London). The leaflet contained statements calculated to lead to civil strife, and gross misrepresentation of the Government's attitude towards the Russian people. The Government was considering the question of a prosecution. Sir George Cave denied that a person claiming to represent a foreign Government was at liberty to engage m propaganda in this country. A meeting in connexion with tho Labour Conference accorded M. Litvinoff a tremendous reception. M. Litvinoff denied that the Bolsheviks had usurped power like a band of conspirators. If they had been a lot of adventurers they would have been swept away lorn; ago by tho people. More history had been made at Brest Litovsk than during tho three years of war.

He did not believe that tho German people would continue to shed, their olood for the benefit of capitalists. Tho Russian revolution was a revolution against war. If peace did result from the Brest Litovsk Conference, a revolution in Germany would come within the bounds of immediate possibility.

GENERAL ELECTION FORECASTED. LONDON, January 22. Mr Arthur Henderson, addressing a conference of tho Women's Labour Leaguo at Nottingham, said that ho believed a general election would he jield between July and September. SIR EDWARD CARSON'S RESIGNATION. OTTAWA, January 23. Sir Frederick Smith (British Attor-ney-General) eays that the resignation of Sir Edward Corson was undoubtedly forwarded en patriotic grounds. The retiring Minister was ready to support the Government's war measures, and also to use his influence with his own party. The Homo Rule Convention might fail. If so, the British Government was not responsible. The matter was entirely one for Irishmen themselves, but if it failod tho Government would probably interfere. THE WAR CABINET VACANCY. LONDON". January 23. The "Daily Chronicle's" Pariiamentary correspondent says that the vacancy in the War Cabinet will not be filled immediately. FURTHER FOOD RESTRICTIONS. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Tclegranu.) LONDON, January 23. The Press Bureau states: — "A new public meals order institutes two meatless days weekly, and prohibits the consumption of milk, excepting in tea, coffee, and cocoa, for which persons must carry their own sugar." HORSEFLESH AS FOOD. (Australian and >».Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 21th, 8.10 p.m.; LONDON, January 23. It is reported that the authorities are encouraging the slaughtor of horses for food.

CONTROL OF METALS. LONDON, January 23. The Minister of Munitions has ex* tended the orders controlling spelter to all zinc and its compounds. PROMOTION FOR OFFICERS. (Australian and IC.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 23. The* "Daily Mail" says that tho authorities have decided to promote officers of the New Army to higher commands shortly, beginning by creating a numl>er of brigadier-generals. BONUS FOR MUNITION WORKERS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received January 24th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. January 23. Tho Press Bureau states that the War Cabinet has decided, as from January Ist, to pay a oonus of 7-i per cent, to all piece-workers engaged in munition work, except thoeo in tho iron and steel trades; provided that auy bonus, or war advance, which in. the case of time-workers is merged in their recent grant of 12J- per cent., shall also be merged in tho present bonus for pieceworkers. A special conference is being called of employers and employees in the iron and steel trades, to consider tho form in which this bonus shall bo applied, and regarding tho settlement in those trades of the 12 J per cent, bonus. CHANGES IN THE ARMY STAFF. (Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received January 25th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 23. In the House of Commons, Mr J. I. Maepherson (Under-Secretary to the War Office) announced that tho following appointments had boon confirmed: Lieut.-General Sir Henry Lawrenco •to bo Chief of the General Staff in Franco. Colonel Q. W. Cox to be Brigadier of tho Intelligence Department. Lieut.-General Travers Clark to be Quartermaster-General. Tho changes were not in consequence of the Cambrai report, Mr Maepherson added. ! HUGE DAILY EXPENDITURE. (Router's Telegruna.) (Received January 24th, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. In the Houso of Commons Mr Bonar Law (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said that the daily average national expenditure for the seven weeksT ended January 19th was £7,500,000, exceeding the estimate by £1,150,000 daily.