THE FISHER INCIDENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 135, 31 July 1911, Page 6

THE FISHER INCIDENT.

o ‘ ‘GROTESQUE Mi SREPRESENTAT1.0N.” Colombo, July 29. Air. Fisher, Commonwealth Piimo Minister, arrived, tiiis morning, and was considerably agitated on learning the sensation that had been caused by the interview published by Mr. W. T. Stead, which he described as a “grotesque misrepresentation.” lie at once cabled that the Stead report was grossly misleading. What ho stated to Mr. Stead in a brief, and hurried interview was what he had stated hundreds of times in public speeches; namely, that the true objective of peace among nations could only ho reached by effective defence. His aim wi« unity among the British nations. “This' can best bo obtained,” ho said, “and maintained by trusting His Majesty’s Governments in the United Kingdom and the Dominions as the.responsible Ministers of a family. of nations.” Referring to the expression “Haul j down the, flag.” “this has never enter- i ed my iuiud,” lie said: “Keep it living j is my ambition, with all its best tra- j ditions; nor have 1 harboured any idea. > that Australia wishes to break away | from the Empire. Nor do I wish to J escape the duty of defending its lion- I our. Such an expression would, not be I disloyalty, but insanity! It would be brutal and monstrous I”