NOTES FROM LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16035, 21 January 1918, Page 3

NOTES FROM LONDON.

SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE. NEED FDR MORE MEN. IN ORDER TO SECURE PEACE. By Telegraplt-Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and Is.A. Cable As&n. * LONDON, Jan. 19. < Mr. Lloyd George, addressing the representatives of the trades un f° n affected by the Man Power Rdl, paid a tribute to the manner wherein they met the Government, and the spirit ot complete frankness which characterised the attitude of both sides, resulting in the clearing of misunderstanding. The Premier reiterated that the alternatives to the proposals were the raising of the age limit, as m'Austria, where it is 55, or sending hack the wounded men. It would bo folly to withdraw, men from industry sooner than was necessary, but it i,ivou!d be treason to the country, to democracy, and to the cause of freedom if, when the need arose, we did not make tho demand. , , “I assume,” said the Premier, that in your hearts you believe the war aims declared by the great Labour Conference represent the minimum which is possibly acceptable, but if we are unable to defeat the German if we are unable to resist the militaiy power of Prussia, is there a man hei e who believes that one of your terms, even the least of them, could he enforced? I api not taking the demands of tho Imperialists—demands of the extreme war men, who want to annex the earth and all the heavenly firmament. I am talking, of the moderate demands of the most pacifist soul in this assembly. Go to von Hindenburg with them and l try to cash that cheque at the Hindenburg hank! It would he returned dishonoured. Whatever terms were submitted by any pacifist in these lands, you will not get'them cashed 1 by Imdendorff, or the Kaiser, or any of these magnates unless you have got tho power to enforce them.” , Mr. Lloyd George went on to say that he and President Wilson, without previous consultation, had laid down what was substantially the same programme of demands - for the termination of the war, hut there had been no response from any man in any position in Germany indicating that the rulers of Germany desired to approach the problem in a spirit of equity. "We demanded the restoration of BelgJjon. Would any of his hearers make peace without the complete restoration of Belgium and reparation for its wrongs? .(Shouts of “No!”) Germany’s only answer to that demand came from the soul of von Tirpitz, who replied “Never!” We had demanded the restoration of the wrong of Alsace-Lor-raine, but Germany answered,“Never I” “Our programme,” continued the Premier, “has been acclaimed throughout the Allied countries, and criticism has hardly been heard of, except from a few who wished Lloyd George had maSe more extreme demands. The Socialists*of France, Britain, and Italy had mainly accepted the demands as being very fair.” it GERMANY STILL UNYIELDING.

Mr. Lloyd . George emphasised that he would not have the war for a second on his soul if he could stop it honourably. He urged those especially who thought we were responsible for the perpetuation of the- horrors of war to consider the reception of pur demands by Germany, where the only comment, had been: “Behold how England is weakening. Go on and they will come down.” Again, when he suggested that Mesopotamia and Palestine should never be restored to the tyranny of the Turk, Germany answered; “We will go on until they are restored. ’ The Premier emphasised that not a single condition contained in the British trade union war aims had met with any authoritative response from Germany. It was very significant that there had been no civilian answer fron? Germany at all. Hiudenburg and Ludendorff had been hurriedly summoned to confer at Berlin, but Baron * von Kuhlmann was not allowed to speak. That meant that Prussian ( military power was dominant and Germany s answer to civilisation would be given from the cannon’s meuth. It would be a mistake, asserted the Premier, to harbour any delusions. “Let us talk quite freely among ourselves. You might as well stop fighting unless von are going to do it with all your niigbt. It is real murder for the gallant fellows who have -stood there for three year's. “There is no alternative, lou have -either gob to put your whole strength into it a or just do what is done in the

Russian armv, and tell these biave fellows they can go homo whenevei they like. If there are men who say they will not go into the trendies, then the men in the trenches have the ngn_ to say: ‘Neither will we remain here. That would be the end of the war. But what sort of an end? The Russian soldiers ceased fighting and fraternised. They simply talked of great ideals to the German army. But the Germans did not retreat; they took Riga- and the islands. Fraternisation did not prevent the Germans from marching forward. If Petrograd had been nearer they would have had that too; and unless w© are prepared to stand up to the whole might of the people dominating Germany 3 T ou will find the democracy of Europe at the mercy of the most cruel military autocracy the world line pver seen. “If.you sent Hindenburg peace delegations, he would just mock at your request that' ho should evacuate Belgium. He would say in his heart: You cannot turn me out of Belgium with trade union resolutions.’ The answer you can give him is: ‘We can and will turn you out of Belgium with trad© union guns and trade unionists behind them.’ ' . ■ “If any man standing in my place can find an honourable, equitable way out of this conflict without fighting it through, for heaven’s sake let him tell me! My own conviction is that the peopl© must either go on or go under.”

NUMEROUS QUESTIONS. ANSWERED BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE. NO NEGOTIATIONS AT PRESENT, (Received Jan. 21, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19. ! Mr. Lloyd George, after his speech, I invited and answered numerous questions regarding the advisability of negotiating with the Germans when the latter were alleged to be whining and squealing for peace. He replied that the Germans were always ready for peace at their own price, which w© were not prepared to pay. The moment the Germans showed a disposition to negotiate on equitable terms there tvoulcl he no reluctance to negotiate. Asked whether it would 1 not be the best way of ascertaining the opinion of the German people to allow British representatives to meet representatives of other Powers at Stockholm or elsewhere, he replied pointing out that the German representatives would be chosen by the Government. “You can,” he said, “only make peace with a Government. If the' Government does not represent the people of Germany let them change it, and if this Government does not represent the people of this country then you can change it.” A delegate interjected: “Give us an opportunity.” Air. Lloyd George replied; “Wo havegiven you the best opportunity in the Franchise Bill by adding eight millions to the electorate. You can have the opportunity any time you like.” The ‘Premier was considerably heckled regarding his objections to an International Workers’ Conference apart from the Governments. He reiterated that all the Allies and America had agreed that negotiations could only he conducted by representatives of the Governments, not by sections of the people. * Mr. Lloyd George emphasised the difficulty of deciding w'hen it was desirable to enter -a Peace Conference without putting one’s head into a noose. He was convinced that a conference _at present -would aggravate and not improve matters. A delegate asked him whether President "Wilson’s reference to the freedom of the seas, was according to the views of the British Government. The Premier replied emphasising that Britain was in a different position from America or any Continental country. W r e must guard* most.carefully against any attempt to interfere with our capacity to protect our shores, shipping and overseas communications. A delegate asked what was meant by the reconsideration of the position of Alsace and Lorraine. The Premier replied that the British people -would stand by France, -who considered peace impossible till the question of Alsace and Lorraine was settled. Official correspondence show's that the Amalgamated Society of Engineers has declined to participate in the man power conference. The Government declined to consult it separately. PRICE OF FISH FIXED. (Received Jan. 21, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. The Food Controller has fixed maximum retail fish prices.

ALARMIST STATEMENTS. LEAD TO SECRET SESSION. LONDON, Jan. IS. The secret session arose with dramatic suddenness as the result of Mr. JM.Hogge, member for Edinburgh East, stating that he had learnt certain facts at a private conference, showing that the proposed 450,000 men were inadequate to meet the military situation. Mr. Hogg© said: ‘‘The Government has not given, an adequate statement regarding the. war. I know ‘facts, though 1 cannot state them, and if the conditions of the war are as stated, the man power proposals are absurd/ being a more flea-bite, and will not meet the situation. It is fooling, the House and the public to suggest that this man power proposal is going to bring them nearer victory.''- Lot tbo War Minister tell the House about America, what help America can give and when she can give it. Let him tell how England is being bled of men, materials and money in order to maintain her position in the war, which in. the autumn may find us no nearer victory.” In reply to cries of di.ssent and inquiry, Mr. Hogg© said:'“l do yit moan to say that the Gormans can break the line.” The secret session followed. / BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLY. COMPULSORY RATIONING PHOBABLE. LONDON, Jan. 18. Food distribution is giving rise to much public discontent.'’ particularly at Manchester, whole 100,000 engineers decided to stop work on Saturday week, march to the Town Hall, and protest against the unequal distribution. Minor disorders occurred in London, women in the margarine queues demanding supplies. Everything points to the immediate necessity of compulsory, rationing. The Food Controller commandeers all margarine from January 26. POSITION SOMEWHAT PERILOUS. (Received Jan. 21, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19. Lord Rhondda, speaking at the Aldwych Club, said that, without wishing to alarm the public, wo had reached the state that Germany reached two years ago. Now her position was perilous. Ho deprecated attempts to set class against class. The rich and middle classes had responded' more generously to economy appeals than the wage-earners. There was no evidence that the fanners were deliberately withholding supplies. Ho concluded that there was no prospect of a moat famine such as affected Germany, but we might economise’more in meat for a few months.