ENGLISH NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14160, 26 April 1916, Page 5

ENGLISH NEWS.

KING GEORGE AND THE CZAR

EASTER TELEGRAMS.

AGRICULTURAL WORK FOR

WOMEN,

HOSTILITY TO THE WAR

London, April 24

The King and the Czar exchanged telegrams on the occasion of the happy coincidence of both nations celebrating Easter on the same day, and expressing confidence in the ultimate success of their combined efforts.

An increasing number of women are assisting in agriculture. The Marchioness of Londonderry and the Countess of Feversham have joined. The latter has been ploughing.

Lord Headley, in a letter to the newspapers, suggests legislation to enable the Premiers of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and 'South Africa to attend all Cabinet Councils-. It wtjuld have a refreshing and rejuvenating influence on the deliberations.

The Independent Labour Party Conference is being held at Newcastle. There are 400 delegates.

Mr J. H. Jowett/the President, declared that the party refused to assist the Government in a war of adventure, which was bound to be disastrous, whatever the result of the military operations was. They protested against; men being compelled to fight whether or not they believed in the justice of the war. He predicted that the -war would be followed by industrial strife, if skilled workers were dragged down' to the level of unskilled workers, and women's labour cheapened men's labour, or if the capitalists were so enriched that the workers were weaker than before the war.

The annual conference of British Socialists at Manchester resulted in a split in the party. One hundred and fifty delegates, including a strong Clyde representation, adapted a resolution, to hold the conference in camera,- whereupon twenty delegates withdrew. The remainder made a frantic demonstration, rising and cheering wildly and singing th-o "Red Flag."

The British Socialist Party, better known as the Social Democratic Federation, is, a small, and insignificant body. When the conference split through carrying a, peace resolution, the pro-war delegates, tinder Mr Hytidman's leadership, withdrew.

Subsequently the conference adopted a resolution to the effect that while convinced that the Allies' victory was essential to democracy, Socialism declared its destestation of war.