GERMAN REPLY TO AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 22

GERMAN REPLY TO AMERICA.

LIBERTY OF ACTION. RETAINED. BERNE, May 11. Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in a secret debate in the Reichstag on the 7th inst., on the reply to the Amcri= can Note, admitted that the Government was strongly advised to inform America to mind her own business, but political considerations overcame patriotic zeal. An overwhelming majority of experts counselled pru= dence, as the advantages of unrestricted submarine warfare would not balance the disadvantages of war. A great error had been committed in overstating the value of the use of submarines against Great Britain. The navy officials no longer believed that it was possible to starve Britain, and it was folly to under-estimate the consequence of war with America. He possessed information that other nations would join America. The Government was convinced of the necessity of keeping peace. The re= ply was worded so as to reserve liberty of action. If the situation should change, they might cancel the concession to America and resume nn« restricted sinking. The Chancellor's condemnation of over-stating the submarines' efficiency was aimed at Admiral von Tirpitz. THE CYMRIC CASE. CREW'S TRYING EXPERIENCE. LONDON, May 11. The survivors from the Cymric state that the steamer was torpedoed without ■warning. The crew were not allowed time to get out the boats. The submarine did not wait to assist the crew, but left them in open boats 138 miles from land, with no apparent prospect of rescue. The men had a bad experience, as it was blowing half a gale. When the crew left the Cymric the vessel was afire. The explosion of the torpedo smashed a high-pressure cylinder. Four men were killed either by the torpedo or by pieces of the cylinder. SUNK WITHOUT WARNING. LONDON, May 11. The Under-secretary for the Admiralty (Dr Macnamara), in the House of Commons, said that 37 British and 22 neutral unarmed merchantmen, although they had made no attempt to escape, had been sunk without -warning during the 12 months ended May 7. SHIPPING TONNAGE. LONDON, May 11. According to Lloyd's Register, the vessels of the United Kingdom decreased last year by 268, the loss of tonnage being 11,151. ORGANISATION WANTED. LONDON, May 11. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution in favour of better industrial organisation, improved transport and banking facilities, the appointment of a Minister of Commerce, the extension of the trade commissionership, and the reorganisation of our consular service; but the most urgent need of all is that our enemies shall not be allowed the same facilities for Empire trade as those granted to the Allies and to neutrals. The chamber urges that steps be taken to prevent dumping, and to effectually eliminate enemy influences existing prior to the war. It also urges the Government to consider preference between the different parts of the Empire and as far as possible with onr allies. THE WESTERN PACIFIC. MELBOURNE, May 12. Mr Mahon, Minister of External Affairs, has received from the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific a proclamation providing for the extension of the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Crown Colony, so as to include the Ocean, Fanny, and Washington Islands. CONSCRIPTION IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, May 12. The Shire Association Conference carried a motion in favour of conscription. A motion suggesting the electoral disqualification of shirkers was defeated. STRONG LABOUR OPPOSITION. - MELBOURNE,'May 12. At the Trades Hall Congress the motion to declare a general strike in the event of conscription was defeated, and it was agreed to take a referendum of unionists on the question of conscription. The motion submitted yesterday—recording members' detestation of conscription which was being introduced by vile means, by which Labour would be overawed by Capital, affirming that the voluntary system -would supply sufficient men, and calling on the Government to increase privates' pay to 10s a day, and to appropriate for war purposes all rents, interests, profits, and other incomes in excess of the equivalent pay of a private—was withdrawn. A motion was then carried recording Labour's uncompromising hostility to conscription, and calling on the Government

to conscript wealth and place first, and in lieu of taking one-fifth, to take all pro perty and assets over £3OO in value during the Avar, and to appropriate all incomes in excess of £3OO per annum. AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATION. MELBOURNE, May 12. In the Federal Senate the Soldiers' Repatriation Bill has been introduced. The Government intends to ask Parliament to vote £2EO,COO towards the fund. In the House of Representatives the conscription debate was continued. Mr Brennan, in bitterly opposing it, said that concripf : on was worse than defeat. Mr Joseph Cook denounced the Labour Conference's activity in war time. He stated that Ministers had degraded themselves by attending them, and should be censured by Parliament. Mr Tudor, Minister of Trade and Customs, in reply to a question, said that Germany had not consulted Australia with regard to a separate peace.