GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17660, 18 February 1916, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

PROMISE TO BELGIUM WHAT THE ALLIES UNDERTAKE COUNTRY RESTORED AND INDEMNIFIED COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) HAVRE, February IG. Received February 17, 5.5 p.m. The French, British and Russian Ministers at the Belgian Court, called at the Belgian Foreign Ministry on Monday, and made the following declaration: — "When the moment comes the Belgian Government will bo called, on to take part in peace negotiations. The Allies will not end hostilities until Belgium has been restored to political and economic independence, and liberally indemnified for damages sustained. We will lend our aid to Belgium to ensure her commercial and financial recovery. The representatives of Italy and Japan announced that they had no objection to the declaration. TAXING AMUSEMENTS A CONFERENCE LONDON, February I*. Received February 17, 5.25 p.m. Mr McKenna discussed the question of taxing amusements with representatives of the Kincma industry, football, and the turf. The result has not been disclosed. INCREASED FOOD PRICES BRITAIN SUFFERS LEAST LONDON, February G. Received February 17, 8.25 p.m. The Board of Trade report that since tlie war prices of food have increased 49 per cent, in the United Kingdom, S3 pre cent, in Berlin, and 113 per cent. in Vienna. ARMED MERCHANTMEN AMERICA’S ATTITUDE LONDON, February 18. Router’s Washington correspondent announces that America will concede the Entente the right to arm merchantmen for defensive purposes, and will disapprove of the German intention to torperto such vessels. PRESIDENT WILSON’S STATEMENT WASHINGTON. February 10. President Wilson and Cabinet have decided that the existing principles of international law regarding merchantmen must stand, unless the Allies accept Mr Lansing’s recent proposals. The State Department recognises that the existing law cannot be changed without the consent of all the Powers, but it may instruct port authorities to refuse clearances unless ships are armed purely defensively. It is expected that President Wilson will noi press Congress to prevent Ameicans sailing on belligerent shipe 1

THE WESTMINSTER SERVICES. THE FIRST POB THE ANZACS. LONDON, February 16. An overseas service at St. .Margaret's, Westminster, was held at midday. Twelve hundred Australian and New Zealand convalescents filled the body of the church and the entire congregation was in khaki. The troops marched to Westminster headed by the Anzac Band. Contrasting with the earlier appearances of the Anzacs suffering from grave wounds and unable to walk unassisted they are now ready to proceed to the front at a moment’s notice. Canon Carnegie, the rector, hoped the overseas troops, their friends and relations would regard St. Margaret’s as “our Parish Church.” This was specially appropriate because it was the House of Commons parish church. Commoners and the whole Bnglish people wished to show their deep appreciation of what the dominion had done during a momentous crisis in the Empire's fortunes. No episode in history could he found more inspiring, more pregnant in far-reaching results than the magnificent rally of the dominions to the support of the Empire. The upraising of Britons close to the storm centre was not unexpected notwithstanding superficial signs of degeneracy, but the response of the men of the dominions exceeded expectations. They were determined not to spare blood or treasure; their deeds of courage and self-sacrifice were unsurpassed in the annals of war. It was impossible to overrate the world importance of these events. The material help of the dominions was of the utmost value to the Mother Counutry at a time when resources were being taxed to the uttermost. RACE CONSCIOUSNESS AROUSES REORGANISATION PROBLEMS LONDON, February IS. Received February 17, 5.5 p.m. Canon Carnegie continued: We now know what formerly we could only hope, that the Empire was a living organism, bound by unbreakable tits, traditions, ideals, and ambitions. The ordeal has aroused race consciousness and Imperial consciousness. The lea-t imaginative now realised that the AngloSaxons are destined to .stand together a potent instrument in God’s hands for the propagation of the great principles of civilised progress. We must not lose the unique opportunity when so many Dominionites are in Britain, to deal with the intricate and difficult problems of reorganisation and consolidation which will tax all our foresight and intelligence to solve aright. MJP. RESIGNS. LONDON, February It. Received February 17, 10.55 p.m. Sir W. Lawson, M.P., has resigned on the ground that he is unsympathetic towards the Government’s war policy. AMERICA’S FATAL WEAKNESS. DIPLOMATIC STRENGTH LOST. NEW YORK, February 16. Received February 17, 9.50 p.m. At the Republican State Convention, Mr Elihu Root denounced President Wilson’s administration for failing to protest against the killing of Americans either in Mexico or upon the ocean. American diplomacy had entirely lost its authority, and the United States iiad become noted for brave words but irresolute action. When they failed to tell the truth about Belgium they lost the opportunity to assume the leadership of the world’s moral sense. A VESSEL MISSING. LONDON, February IT. Received February 18, 12.30 a.m. The Invermark has been posted as missing. COST OF THE WAR. COLOSSAL FIGURES. LONDON, February 17. Received February 18, 12.30 a.m. In the House of Commons Mr McKenna stated that the national debt rose from £708,000,000 in 1914 to £2,200,000,000 in 1915-16. The Germans gross war expenditure to the end of 1915 was £1,500,000,000. The French war credits to March were £1,541,000,000. ECONOMY CAMPAIGN THE IMPORTS PROHIBITED LONDON, February 16. A proclamation prohibits the importation, except under license, of paper, pa-per-making materials, periodicals, exceeding 16 pages (except single copies), port wine; also tobacco, furniture, woods, and hardwoods. Another proclamation prohibits British vessels from starting on any voyage without a license.