PEACE TALK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 7

PEACE TALK.

THE FORD CRUSADE.

SHIP MEETS BAD WEATHER

WIRELESS KEPT BUSY

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 10.

A thousand wireless messages have bean received from Mr Henry Ford's' ship announcing that rough weather was encountered and that the passengers were mostly seasick. The peace missionaries believe that the British will detain the ship off Kirkwall and examine the credentials of the passengers, seveiial of whom have Gorman namo3, and also search the ship tor contraband.

Those who are not seasick meet daily and pass resolutions in favour of peace, applauding Mr Ford's enterprise. Fordists declare that they know. England regards the expedition as a huge joke and a vulgar advertisement, but believe that the publicity given will accelerate peace. Mr Ford sent a wireless' message to

Renter's, running to several thouaand words, of the Rev C. F. Akedte sermon comparing the mission to that of 8k Paul, and the leader to Thomas Clarkson, Noal Dow and the Pilgrim Fathers. "It may be," the sermon said, "that Mr Ford's ship will bring 4h» peace conference nearer end rank him with Washington! and' Lincoln. We•■ wiH erect a peace standard in neutral European countries to which all wise and good will repair."

THE POPE AND PEACE.

COMMENT IN ROME. Times " and Sydney “ Sun ” Services. LONDON, December 10. “The Times’s” correspondent at Rome says that the Pope’s letter has been most favourably received there except by the ultra-clerical section. Many sincere Catholics are dismayed at the Pope’s attitude, and choice of language nnd peace references, all indicating that there are prospects of an active revival of the Rome question. The “Tribuna” says:—“lt'is impossible to imagine a peace not favouring one side, seeing that, the war broke out because one belligerent alone aimed at unjustly overpowering an ■ enemy. Therefore peace cannot be concluded until these aims have been completely frustrated.” The “Giornale d’ltalia” publishes a conversation with Monsignor Tedeschi, one of the Pope’s Under-secretaries of State. He said that it was unfair to criticise the Pope for not condemning certain actions, because he needed a proper invitation. Interrogated, Monsignor Tedeschx ) said that the‘ Pope was willing to adjudicate on any specifto point if the parties submitted beforehand to his verdict.

The "Giornale d'ltalia" suggests that the belligerents should, a9k th» Pope whether the invasion of Belgiun* was legitimate.