AUSTRALIA'S SENTIMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15916, 13 May 1915, Page 8

AUSTRALIA'S SENTIMENT.

EMPIRE WAGING WAR.

PROWESS OF AUSTRALASIANS.

BRITAIN WILL NOT FORGET.

London, May 11.

The Empire Parliamentary Association gave a luncheon in the House of Commons in honour of Mr. J. C. Watson, ex-Premier of Australia. Sir G Reid, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Lord Sydenham, Lord Islington,' Lord Emmott, Sir Gilbert Parker, and many members of the House of Commons were present. Mr. Lewis Harcourt, Colonial Secretary, who presided, said Mr. Watson must be proud to be in London and learn of the prowess of the Australians and New Zealanders in the Dardanelles, though unhappily loss of life was concurrent with their great achievement. Mr. Harcourt said he could assure Australia that, the people of Great Britain would not forget. - Mr. Watson, in reply, said the Australians were pre-eminently a peaceful people, concerned in the development of their immense territory. The present was not a Mother Country war, it was the Empire's war, and from that point of view Australia approached it. He was gratified that the troops had upheld the glory and tradition of the flag. Mr. Watson quoted Mr. Fisher's statement that Australia would give its last man and last shilling, and went on to say that Australians regretted the necessity for prosecuting the war, but said it must be prosecuted to the last degree. A suggestion had been made that lan appeal should be made to the i better nature of Germany to bring the war to a conclusion. The sinking of the Lusitania was the best answer to such a suggestion. It was impossible to bring things home to a nation cradled in militarism without breaking the back of the military power. Any peace short of that would be a most suicidal policy on the part of the allies. Mr. Watson urged Mr. Harcourt to expedite an informal gathering of the overseas representatives before the conclusion of the war. Such a meeting could do no possible harm, and a great deal of good might be accomplished by getting the mind of men from overseas in respect of war problems which had arisen. Those from overseas were now statesmen of the Empire, and not likely to subject the Imperial Government to any- embarrassment. Mr. Watson sails for America tomorrow.