MOTHER COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17666, 19 December 1917, Page 7

MOTHER COUNTRY.

LABOUR AND THE WAR. WAR AIMS AND PEACE POLICY. TO MAKE WORLD SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY. LONDON. December 17. The Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress and the executive of the Labour Party, have formulated a draft statement regarding Labour’s war aims and peace policy to be submitted to the National Conference at Westminster on December 28 Io states Whatever caused the war, the fundamental purpose of the British Labour movement in supporting its continuance is that the world may be safe for democracy. Tho most important war aim is that henceforth there shall bo no more war, and in order to achieve this, the movement relics on the complete democratisation of all countries, the frank abandonment of every form of Imperialism, tho suppression of secret diplomacy, and the absolute responsibility of tho Foreign Minister to the Legislature. The manifesto demands the univei'sal abolition of compulsory military service in all countries, a common limitation of armaments and tho abolition of profit-making by armament firms. Moreover, a super-national authority or League of Nations must bo established, composed of the present belligerents, while neutrals should also join. All disputes must be submitted to an International High Court, and all States must enter into a solemn agreement to make common cause against any State failing to adhere to this agreement. _ . . The manifesto says that it is impossible to ignore tho fact that certain territorial readjustments are required if a renewal of armaments and war is to he avoided. It was a crime that Alsace-Lorraine were forcibly torn from France in 1871, and the inhabitants should _bo allowed to freely decide their political future. The people of the Balkans and Poland should decide their own future, irrespective of Austrian, Turkish or other foreign dominion. The Labour movement is in the warmest sympathy with the people _of Italian blood and speech left outside the Kingdom of Italy, hut lias no sympathy for the far-reaching aims of conquest of Italian imperialism. Labourites hope that Jews will form a free State in Palestine. While Armenia, Mesopotamia and Arabia cannot be restored to the tyranny of the Sultan and his paslias, these countries should be placed under a League of Nations, which should also control Constantinople. The Labour Party disclaims sympathy with all Imperialist ideas. The colonies in tropical Africa should nob be a booty for any .nation, and exploited for capitalists. All belligerents should abandon their dreams of an African Empire and transfer the present colonies to a League of Nations, which would form a permanently neutral African State.

Cases where the sovereignty of other territories must he transferred should b'e subject to amicable bargaining, with an equivalent exchange of money or otherwise. The Labour Party declares against an economic war after peace, and considers that Customs duties should he limited strictly for the purpose of the restoration of' the devastated areas ;n France, Belgium. Italy. East Prussia, Poland and Russia This must cover the losses sustained by the peasantry. Tho Labour movement will not be satisfied unless a full, free judicial investigation is made into all acts of cruelty and theft, for whieh there was no justification under tho ordinary usages of war or peace conditions. They should set up a Court of Accusations, which would investigate and award damages.

THE WAR BONDS.

A BIG SALE. (Received December 19, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. Mr Bonar Law in the House of Commons stated that to November 30 the new war bonds sold totalled £149,227,000. 'ALIEN ENEMIES. NATURALISATION QUESTION. (Received December 19, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 17.' In the House of Commons Sir George Cave, in reply to a motion urging that a moro definite policy regarding alien enemies should bo made, agreed that the Government needed new powers to review naturalisation certificates. Naturalisation was an Imperial matter. The Government had submitted proposals to the dominion Governments at tlio request of the Imperial Conference and when replies were received would introduce a Bill.