PACIFIST ASSERTIONS DERIDED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11417, 21 December 1917, Page 8

PACIFIST ASSERTIONS DERIDED.

Rocioved Dec. 21, noon. London, Dec. 20. Replying to Mr Ponsonhy’s earlier remarks, Mr Balfour said it was the grossest travesty of facts, auu also assisting the enemy’s propaganda to -.say tint our aims were merely Imperialistic and that Britain Ind .selfish objects in prolonging the war, winch the Central Powers desired to end upon tbir terms. Thoro was no foundation tor the ■suggestion Unit bnt for tho blundering of our Foreign OHice and W : > r Cabinet Rush! » would still bo fighting whole he irtodly. Mr Ponsonby was entirely wrong in saying that Britain’s attitude towards the Knssian revolution as so chilling that it is likely to impair tho whole future of Anglo-Russian relations. The Government welcomed the end •of the Mitocraey in Russia with the warmest enthusiasm and vividness of hope, for which, unfortunately up to tho present there was little justification. If Britain’s good wishes, warm hopes, and sanguine expectation could make the revolution successful it ought to the greatest success possible. When dealing with a world-wide war all .sorts of difficulties anil side issues necessarily arise. The Government Jml boon accused of tarnishing the country’s honour by acting a hypocritical part in plunging in the war and bo; sting of disinterestedness, which was deceiving the British people. '.l hat rny arrangement was made about Constantinople for any "imperialistic idea was absurd. Arrangements concerning Persia wore carried through by Mr Campbell Bannerman with Russia in 1907, and were then regarded rs a great triumph for international amity. Hie formation of an independent. Poland within the Russian Empire was tho ex-Czar’s solution of the question of domestic policy. Britan might have wished that the ox-Czar’s docl intion should take a different form, but tho declaration was explicit. The Foreign Office had never heral of tho proposal to create a now buffer State on the left bank of tho Rhine us suggested in Petrograd disclosures. Mr Balfour did not believe such a scheme represented tho French policy. There had boon no obscurity in our statement of war aims. We stated them truly. Obscurity was witli the Central Powers, which did not state their aims at all.

PROFITS OF KRUPPS. Amsterdam, Dec. 20. Krupps show a profit of five million sterling for 1916 and pay a dividend of ten per cent. EXPLOSIVE WORKS WRECKED London, Doc. 2. Official.—An explosion wrecked buildings at explosives works northward of London. There were no fatalities. TROTSKY BECOMING UNPOPUL \ R. DUBBED A “BLOOD-DRINKER.” Petrograd, Dec. 30. Trotsky attempted to address a peasants' conference, but a terrific hubbub arose. The crowd killed Ins horse, amidst cries of ‘ ‘Blooddrinker!” and' “Down with the Executioner!” Trotsky withdrew and addressed his supporters in another hall.