ANTI-BRITISH OVERTURES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, 24 October 1916, Page 5

ANTI-BRITISH OVERTURES

MADE TO REPUBLICAN PRESI-

DENTIAL CANDIDATE

(Received Oct. 24, 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 23. A sensation has-been caused by publication of the> minutes of a secret meeting of the American Independence Conference, an organisation of prominent anti-British Irish-Americans and German-America us, at which a report was received of an ultimatum presented to Mr Hughes demanding .that he should attack Great .Britain in a public speech in exchange i'or election support.

Mr Hughes admits jTivijig conferred with this body, l-r:! O.c. io>: that he entered into an agreement, although Irish-Americans s\\>d German-Americans consider an agreement was made.

The Republican managers are fearful that the revelation will seriously jeopardise Mr Hughes' chances of election.