IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 27 December 1915, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS , THE BRITISH MRCANTILE MARINE. statement by hon.a. j. 'balfour. Received at 9.25 p.m. LONDON, December 24. la the House of Commons the Hon.r A. J Balfour said that an .angel from Heaven could not have eleminated the wastage. He did not reject the proposal that the Government should own the whole of the Mercantile Marine, but many difficulties and complicated questions would arise. On the other hand it was impossible to leave the whole Mercantile Marine fleet quite free. He .was sorry the Munitions Bill had not passed, as it made possible the building of merchant vessels. War wont and every other detail had diminished the amount of tonnage available. • He maintained ' that- freights as at present -were on a terrible level and increased the cost of innumerable articles, which were essential and proper for the carrying on of the ,war. TRADE RELATIONS AFTER THE WAR. . ■ ■ • * LONDON, December 24. The Right Hon. W. Runciman in replying to the questions of trade relations after, the war, said that- an investigation that was being conducted was not made with the idea of hastening a return of peace. There should be no peace until the main object wherefor we were fighting was attained .Every department in commercial life had, however, been constantly thinking what was likely to happen when the war was over and how best to prepare for such contingencies. It was certain that the relationship with Germany and Austria, "what might be called the Central Powers of the Zollvorein were bound to be in-con flict with our interests. There were also the questions of the use of British ports which had 'been made by German tonnage and Aliens ownership. The real property in Britain was notably the- coalfields and they should take good care that no German should stand in their "way. The Board of Trade was' closely watching all British- interests, whereto everything else was sacrificed. One of the most remarkable romances of industry had been the skill wherewith the Germans had gathered together the control of the oilfields of Europe and in the East. The question was, how far this raw material, seeing the value as motive power transport, would pass from German to British control. He added : " I think so far as commerce is concerned Germany is a beaten Nation. It should be our business to see that she does not again lift up her head after the. war. FOREIGN OFFICE DIPLOMACY. LONDON, December 24. Lord Robert Cecil "replying to the criticisms regarding Foreign Office diplomacy said that the suggestion by a Greek Statesman that the Foreign Office had rejected Greece 's Alliance of assistance was absolutely xoundationless. Of what may have happened before he joined the Government he would not speak, but the whole keynote of Sir Edward Grey's policy for 'years had been to produce a unity of feeling hi the Balkans instead oi a discord. Com plaints had been m<ade of the Foreign Office's secrecy. If the complainers were inside the Foreign Office for a week they would see that .as long as Britain had to co-operate with Foreign Powers it could not be done in the light of day. Secr-ecy was easily denounced arid derided, but a measure of secrecy was absolutely essential. Referring to the blockadel he said that no linseed had been exported frdm Britain for months. It might be true that other oil-bearing substances had been exported in undue quantities, but that was a vital matter wherewith we had to deal. It was not Britain's policy to go to war with neutrals in or- ' der .effectively to blockade Germany.

Thiy could only stop the goods on the. sea wMeh they, knew were going to Germany. Those who suggested that someone in the Foreign Office was.under German influence were mere hysterical . neurotics who, when things were not going right for the moment, turned on those wno serve their country saying: "you traitors ! We are betrayed ! Why are we not succeeding ? He added : This disgraceful state of things ought to be stamped upon. A few months ago Sir Edward Grey was regarded as the representative for all that was best in our public life, and now some would blame him for our mis fortunes.