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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16666, 11 April 1916, Page 5

THE COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE. ME HUGHES AS DELEGATE. LONDON, April 9. Mr Hughes has not yet been definitelyinvited to the Paris Conference, but will probably receive an invitation on Monday. He is expected in some quarters to go as a British representative, but 'whether or not he represents all the dominions, he is sure to have a full voice in the proceedings. The Weekly Despatch says: "Mr Hughes could not speak at the Paris Conference as a special representative of Australia, because in that case it would be only fitting that the other dominions should have similar representatives, which is obviously impossible." CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY. BRITISHERS DECORATED. LONDON, April 9. Lieutenant-commander R. Warden has been awarded the Albert Medal of the first class for special gallantry in descending the hold of the ammunition ship Maine at Boulogne and extinguishing a fire in two cases of high-explosives when they were already alight on the outeides. The Maine's officers and crew were withdrawn from the vessel. Private Grimble, of Middlesex, was given the Albert Medal of the" second class for accompanying Lieutenant Warden on deck and handing him a hose. THE MATCH DUTY. FOREIGN COMPETITION. " LONDON, April 9.' The matchmakers complain that foreign stocks that have already been landed are treated as being free of taxation, while those lying in the warehouses of British manufacturers have been impounded for excise. It is officially stated that the Excise Board has decided to allow a period of grace before collecting the tax, and that stocks in hand as at April 6 will not be liable to taxation. WORKERS' SUFFRAGE FEDERATION A PROCESSION BROKEN UP. LONDON, April .». A remarkable scene occurred in Trafalgar square this afternoon. Thousands of people awaited a procession of the Workers' Suffrage Federation, whose meeting Was announced as a protest against' the restriction of popular liberties. The crowd, suspecting it to be connected with the peace movement, rushed the procession the moment it entered the square, seized and tore up the banners and flags, hustled the processionists, and threw red and yellow ochre in the faces of the speakers, and then bags of flour. The speakers hastily retreated. The crowd, led by Australian soldiers, sang the National Anthem. ■, (Received April 10, at 8!40 p.m.) Sylvia Pankhurst organised the Trafalgar square demonstration. ' There was a banner inscribed : " Coercion is not Government." Sylvia headed tho procession. SCENES IN THE REICHSTAG. LIEBKNECHT'S INTERJECnONS. ' STRONG FEELINGS AROUSED. AMSTERDAM, April 9. There have been further heated scenes in the Reichstag. Herr Liebknecht declared tEat he held documents showing an agreement between Zimmerman, Broke, and Sir Roger Casement for drilling British prisoners to fight against England. Despite repeated calls to order and cries of "Traitor" and "Lunatic," Herr Lieb : knecht denounced the official encouragement of such treasonable propaganda. He also denounced the misleading Government memorandum attempting to prove that British merchantmen were armed to attack German submarines. He said that the war began with a cry against Tsarism, but was soon directed against England. Eventually the House refused to hear Liebknecht. COPENHAGEN, April 9. The organ of the Schleswig Danes at Fiensburg publishes a full report of the Reichstag proceedings. When Dr von Bethmann Hollweg declared that Germany's enemies chose the war, Herr Leibknecht shouted: "Lies; you chose it." (Tremendous uproar, and cries of " Chuck him out," " Blackguard," and "Dirty dog."). Dr von Bethmann Hollweg at one stage said: "We want neighbours with whdm to co-operate to mutual advantage." Herr Liebknecht at once interposed: " You therefore suddenly assail and strangle them." Amid a deafening' din the strongest epithets were hurled at Liebknecht, one member shouting: " Hit him on the head." Herr Liebknecht later on, during the naval debate, cried: "Discuss the submarine question. It has been forbidden, yet it still continues."

GENERAL ITEiS

DUTCH CONSIDERATION. A BRITISH SAILOR'S PAROLE. AMSTERDAM, April 9. A British sailor, who was interned at Groningen (Holland), has been granted a week's furlough on parole to visit his mother, who is seriously ill in Banffshire. THE COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE. "PRELIMINARY AND EXPLORATORY. LONDON, April 9. (Eeceiived April 10, at 8.40 p.m.) A French wireless message states that President Poincare will preside over the Allies' Parliamentary Conference. The Commercial Conference will be held on April 27. The Observer says : " The conference at Paris will bo preliminary and exploratory. It is not intended to invite decisions involving a new departure in a fiscal policy, or new immediate trade agreements. It will not be sufficiently formal to warrant a full and general recognition of all the component parts of the Empire. Mr W. M. Hughes will attend in a personal rather than an official capacity." TOTAL GERMAN CASUALTIES. OVER TWO MILLIONS AND A-HALF. LONDON, April 9. (Received April 10, at 8.40 p.m.) Official: The German military casualties since the beginning of the war total 2,700,000, including 682,000 killed. AN INDUSTRIAL TRUCE. WORKERS' SACRIFICES. MUST NOT BE USED AGAINST THEM. ' LONDON, April 9. (Received April 10, at 8.40 p.m.) Mr J. H. Thomas, addressing the railwaymen, said that some sections in Great Britain welcomed Mr Hughes as a heavensent angel. It was largely a political dodge, and there was a danger of Mr Hughes being made a tool of by the Tariff Reform Party. Many who were now lauding him would not accept his policy of an eight hours' day and old-age pensions. They were significantly silent upon those points. In addition to the political truce, we must have an industrial truce. The workers had made splendid sacrifices for the sake of the war, but this must not be made a leaver for the oppression of the workers after the war.

INTER-PARLIAMENTARY VISIT. FRENCH MEMBERS IN ENGLAND. LONDON, April 9. (Received April 10, at 8.40 p.m.) Thirty French members of Parliament are paying a 10 days' visit to England. They are the guests of the British Government. ITALIAN BOMBARDMENT. ENEMY WORKS DAMAGED. ROME,-April 9. (Received April 10, at 8.40 p.m.) A communique states: Our bombardment of Opuna, on the 2nd inst., ignited a great foodstuff depot and destroyed a railway junction. GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS. SEMI-OFFICIAL PRESS ARTICLES. ALLIES' FOLLY REGRETTED. LONDON, April 10. ... (Received.April. 10,.at 10. 30 p.m.) ' The Cologne Gazette, a semi-official organ of the German Government, complains of the Allies' folly in not -wishing to consider Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg's peace terms seriously. Germany will now only make peace on her own terms. If the Allies do not abandon their plans to destroy Germany, then the later will fight to the end. The Frankfurt Gazette publishes a similar inspired article.