AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16215, 18 May 1918, Page 9

AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN.

(Br Cable.—Presc Association. —Copyright-) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telograjnfi.) (Received Mav 17th, 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 16.

In the House of Commons, Mr Runciman asked was the Emperor Karl's letter, quoted by M. Clemenceau on April Oth, communicated to the other Allies; did Mr Lloyd George inform the Foreign Office at the time such letter yeas shown to him. and was the subject dropped because Franco the Alsace-Lorraine of 1814, or even 1790. Mr Balfour (Foreign Minister) replied that there was a tendency to treat this subject as if it concerned Britain alone. It was really a delicate question of international policy, and could no be discussed as a domestic matter. T is was a private letter written by ° Emperor Karl to a relative, and was conveyed by the latter to the Frenc 1 Government under the seal of stiic e* secrecy, and -without permission to conl . municat-e it to anyone in Britain excep Mr Lloyd George and the Sovereign. This was an inconvenient way to dea with a great transaction, but it was no the fault of the British Government. Mr Balfour added that the restoration cf the Alsace-Lorraine of 1314 or had never been one of the Allied w aims. Mr Runciman must bo to the conversation between the and a French representative early i j 1917, which was unknown to the Bri ish Government until much later, an which had no international bearing, a in no way pledged the Britis 1 ove ment. Mr Balfour said that it in possible to know what actuated Jvar , Count Czernin, and the. Kaiser '• d theso transactions, but he was, in to think that it was part of a P • offensive with the object J with these cynical methods by P ubI r ls ing the Emperor Karl's letter. French Chamber had already concluded that the letter did not provide adequate or satisfactory basis for peaco, and the House of Commons might bo content with that verdict. Nobody was more desirous than the Bntu.li Government to bring the war to an honourable termination. It an y thod -whereby that could be accomplished were shown to us it would accepted. There was no evidence now or at any time that the German governing classes contemplated tho E ossibility of what we should regaru as a reasonable peace. Replving to Mr R. L. Outhwaite, Mr Bonar Law stated that no change hati occurred,~or was contemplated, m the High Command in France. He strongly deprecated such questions, which, in future, ho would decline to answer. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's TclegTamn.) (Received May 17th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 16. The King and the Queen held a reception at Buckingham Palaco for the American Labour delegation. Tho King, in welcoming the delegation, said:—"lt has always been my dream, which the war has fulfilled, that the British and American nations should work together in close harmonious relations towards the ideals ot progress and civilisation common to both peoples." He hoped that after tho war they would continue to stand togethor. Mr McCormick, one of the delegates, assured the King that the delegation was impressed -with tho magnitude of Britain's effort. America would not be behind with her contribution to the common cause. „ (Received May 18th, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 17. The Press Bureau reports that -ho Food Controller (Lord Rhondda) —ill abolish meatjess days in eating-places as from May 17th.

LONDON, May 16. Owing to a shortage of jurors the Government has introduced a Bill in the House of Lords dispensing with juries in England and Wales in certain cases heard during the war.. The Port of London Authority is asKine the Board of Trade to sanction p. further increase of 15 per cent, in the dock charges, making the total increase 65 per cent, since the war began. Inis is entirely due to the advances m wages The' Ministry of Reconstruction is considering the establishment of State Loan Banks, to assist? the builders ot workmen's homes.