THE BRITISH WAR CREDIT

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1916, Page 3

THE BRITISH WAR CREDIT

A. CROWDED HOUSE.

LISTENS TO MB. BONAR LAW

(Reuter Cable.) (I'resß Assn.—Kecd. 5.50 p.m.)

LONDON, Jbeechiber 1L

Tho House of Commons hold a crowded sitting. The parties were extraordinarily mixed. Some Liberals crossed to the Opposition and many of the Unionists remained with the Opposi' tion but a considerable number of the Liberals remained upon the Ministerial side. These were joined by some Unionists who crossed over. The majority of the Laborites remain on the Ministerial side. Mr Bonar Law, continuing his statement upon finance, said the total credit votes for the financial year had been £1,5)30,000,000 which was £350,000,000 above the estimates. The increase was mainly due to the purchase of munitions and loans to the Allies and Dominons. The increase in the munitions bill was enormous, in fact, almost incredible. ' This was striking proof of the country's vitality. The increase under the heading of loans to the Allies and Dominons amount to £400,000. The increase, however, had gone entirely to the Allies as the Dominons were able to finance their expenditure. He emphasised that the Germans had advantage in the matter of controlling the resources of their Allies. He declared that the Entente

Governments were endeavouring to secure central control and much had been done in that direction in the past six months. He believed that the rapidity of victory depended upon the extent to which the resources of the Allies in men, money and munitions could be thrown iuto the common cause. The total war expenditure in Britain was £3,852,000,000. He believed we should be able to maintain the present rate of expenditure long enough to endure so that financial causes would not prevent victory. Hitherto no peace proposals had reached Government. Mr R. McKenna promised Mr Bonar Law the fullest support in his difficult task. The House unanimously adopted the credit vote. Lord Robert Cecil announced that the Allies were about to present demands to Greece to clear up the unsatisfactory situation. The blockade did not imply war between Greece and the Allies.