THE LORE OF LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 15914, 21 September 1915, Page 1

THE LORE OF LONDON

CALLS MR FISHER. SIR GEORGE REID SLIGHTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. rrn , ..LONDON, September 19. it iu Daily Chronicle ’ publishes its Melbourne correspondent’s message stating that Sir George Reid’s offer, cabled on Friday, greatly incensed the federal Ministers, partly because of the implied suggestion that Australia is impecunious. He quotes Mr Fisher’s dictum that it is a mistake for anv official to place. Australia in the category of a petitioner for relief. The Chronicle 3 -adds: “Mr Fisher'is gen©raHy regarded as Sir George Reid’s probable successor.”

Sir George Reid, interviewed, announced that he cabled his offer to the Federal Government in these terms: The increasing gravity of the situation and the certainty of critical times ahead, which will test to the utmost the statesmanship at the helm of political affairs, prompted me to consider what I can do in the present crisis to show my gratitude to the Commonwealth and willingness to help. May I offer the Government, without intrusion or offence, my services in London until the end of the -war, without salary? Sir G. H. Reid went on to say: “I cannot believe that Australian Minis* ters will regard my offer as an aspersion on the financial soundness of the Commonwealth. During my long life nobody has done more to vindicate Australia’s magnificent financial position than I. Nobody ever dreamt of regarding Lord _ Strathcona’s offer to serve Canada without salary as an aspersion upon Canada’s financial resources, or as putting Canada in the position of a petitioner for relief. The point of my offer was that Australia’s best men were wanted, and it is incredible that an inferior man . should be appointed as High Commissioner. They should all be left free to serve her where she can best be served in the present crisis—namely, in Australia. I supposed my offer would have enabled that to be done. The help I proffered was not £3,000 a year, hut my services. This was not as an act of financial' relief, but as a slight proof of my personal gratitude and good-will—feelings which nobody grudges to the late High Commissioner of Canada.”