MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

HAIC'S VISIT TO LONDON. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. THE QUESTION OF VOTE OF THANKS. NEW PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE. Received Dec. 20, 7.30 p.m. London, Dec. IS. The Press Bureau reports tlia,t in view of the renewed attempt to create an estrangement between the military and civilian authorities, it is officially stated that Sir Douglas Haig did not attend tho. intA-Allied Conference at London in December .with Marshal Foch and M. Clemenceau owing to the fact that the King was then visiting the army. Sir Douglas Haig's present visit is of a private character, but the Government, as soon as- it' was ;,d vised, immediately organised a public reception; and Mr. Lloyd George altered his plans with reference to the conference at Paris, in order to attend the reception. Regarding the impression that there ought to have been a vote of thanks to the army, it was felt that the King's address before prorogation expressed the nation's gratitude to the fighting services in a formal and admirable manner, and that the proper occasion for Parliament's thanks was when the new Parliament assembled. i

The Press Bureau states that tlie report that the Air Ministry is ending its activities is without foundation.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

THE MILITARY AND THE PRESS "DON'T LET US GET SWELLED HEADS." Received Dec. 20, 5.5 p.m; London, Dec. 18, via America. Sir Douglas Haig, addressing the war correspondents, said: "In no previous war have the relations of the army and the press been so satisfactory. Perhaps that is one reason why we at tlm moment are on the bridges over the RMne. Do not let us get swelled heads over the victory, the same as other persons did in 1870."—Reuter.