AGAINST WAR.

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1922, Page 5

AGAINST WAR.

BRITISH LABOUR’S STAND. MADE PLAIN TO GEORGE. THE TRUTH COMES OUT. WHY PEACE RESULTED. [A. and N.Z. Cable Association.! (Received October 10, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 10. The official report has now been published of the recent Trade Union deputation to Mr Lloyd George in opposition to a war in the Near East (as cabled on September 21). The report shows that. Mr Ben Tillett said that he would admit that owing to the existing unemployment, some men would join the colours, particularly the young men; but, he said, “the Trade Union leaders have come to tell the Government the plain God’s truth: We are opposed to war, and we would organise opposition against any form of war.’’ Miss Margaret Bondfield said: The impression which the Cabinet’s call to colours made upon women was one of horror. It is blasphemy to call it a holy war.’’ Mr J. 11. Thomas, M.P., described the call to the colonics, not only as unwise, but as humiliating and dangerous. If he said, war were forced upon them, then an active, strong, and determined opposition by Labour would make it : disastrous from the point of view of the Empire. Labour was not unmindful of the necessity for keeping the Straits open, but the Government’s support of the Greeks had been a direct cause of the aggravating situation. America, he said, had no right to run away from its obligations. Mr Lloyd George, in reply, said that if the Government had taken strong measures, it was because it was lirm ly convinced that strong measures were necessary to avert an international conflict. A policy of drift would make war inevitable. “We never gave Greece sixpence,’’ he said. The Government would welcome the occupation of the Straits by the League of Nations, provided that the League placed an adequate force there to keep the Straits free and neutralised. The League of Nations would have to dek cide whether fortifications were neces-

sary to guarantee such freedom. Mr Thomas interjected: “Labour dis

agrees with your methods of giving effect to that policy, rather than the policy itself.’’ The deputation concluded by agree-

ing not to issue the report, revealing as it would, that Labour would resist, as to issue the report would make a bad impression upon Kemal Pgsha.