PARLIAMENT AND NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.
BUREAUCRACY » DEMOCRACY. SELECT COMMITTEE PROPOSED.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 31ST. 1997,
MESOPOTAMIA REPORT, EMOLUMENTS AND REWARDS.
Mr. Honar Law, in answer to a ques- tion by Mr. Joynson Hicks, has issued tho following particulars regarding certain persons mentioned in the Mesopotamia report:--
RUSSIA'S PROBLEMS. QUESTION OF FINLAND. [rnou THE "DAILY TELEGRAPH'B" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]
"READY FOR A REVOLUTION.” SPANISH REPUBLICAN LEADER'S INTENTION
PROALLY AIMS
Seflor. Lorrour, the Spanish Republican leuder, has authorised bir. H. J. Gecen wall, the Daily Express Special Corre spondent, to make the following declara tion:
"At the moment when the Spanish
at any moment there may be dirsepsion, 15, Liberal party is split in twein, and when the ranks of the Conservative party, the Republicans are not only unitedy but have with them the Socialist and Reform farco, wo havo succeeded in parties. Although universal suffrago in Spain is our endeavours, and are preparing for a political revolution.
The army's discipline is brøkka, and cannot be restored under the present regime. The formation of juntas among the officers was a protest against the King trying to form an army of his own We believe that we have the strength, we are wady, and we are intelligent enough to take advantage of the present situa
"We want to organise for peace. That must come sooner or later, and we want Spain to play her part in international polities. The Russian revolution has bad a loud echo in Spain.
There are two national questions that In the House of Commons recently, Major Godfrey Collins moved "That this
Lord Hardinge (Permanent Under are now causing some embarrassment to House is of opinion, in view of the con- Secretary of Stato for Foreign Affairs), the Provisional Government, and multiply tinued growth of expenditure, taxation, £2,800-Promotions or rewards since and. debt, that a commitice be appointed, November 2nd, 1015: K.G., March 24th, the complications that bamper the pro consisting of members of this House, with 1918.
gregs of the Eussian democracy. These General Duff (unemployed), umemploy power to revise all national expenditure, examine Ministers and officials and re-ed pay £1,000 per annum and £100 good are the questions of Finland and the port to the House." He said the National service pension-Promotions er rewards Ukraine. The case of Finland is peculiar Debt was increasing at the rate of since November 22nd, 1815: G.C.S.Lly regrettable to friends of Finnish free. £182,000,000 a month, and a year hence January 1st, 1910. would be over £6,000,000,000.- The re-
General Nixon (unemployed), unem dom. The generous action of the Revolu entry of the stoase of Commons into the played pay £900 per annum und £100 tionary Government in making it its first care completely to restore Finnish Con- field of public finance was bound to havs good service pension.
Sir W. Meyer (Financial Member of stitutional liberties has not met in Fin- a salutary effect. The great Chancellors the Governor-General's Excentive Coun- land with anything like an adequate of the Exchequer of the past, such as Pitt cil), rupecs 80,000 per annum.
response. There are historical reasons for and Gladstone would have treated the
General Barrow (Member of Indian this. Finland throughout the period of House of Commons very differently. They Council), salary as member of Council ber union with Russia has hold aloof from would not have palmed off dummy cati- £1,000 per annum, unemployed pay £900 the Russian people, has resolutely turned mates on the country. Control of expen- per annum, good service pension £100 per her eyes to the west and ignored the east. diture was the supreme object of the aanum-Promotions or rewards sinco The aloofness had acquired a strong tinge House, but in the present situation this November 22nd. 1910: G.C.S.I., February of hostility during the last twenty years control could not be exercised because the 22nd, 1910; was appointed member of of oppression under the old régime. This necessary knowledge was deliberately Council on vacating military Secretary hostility has not disappeared; it has betion.
come rather more insistent since tho withbeld. Publicity in these mattore, he ship at India Olio in January, 1017.
Surgeon General W. Babtie (Director liberation of Finland. cóntended, was not a danger, but a safe. guard. The increasing use of the Press of Medical Services at the War Office),
thom laid down for Director of Medical Inveterato ignorance of Russia, ag- by the Government had diminished the Services in India at the rate of 2,760 gravated by indiscriminate hostility to power of the House of Commons. (Cheers.) Day by day Ministers, gave the rupees a month-Promotions or rewards Russia, is the chief explanation of the
since November 22nd, 1915: K.O.M.G.. complete lack of wise generosity display. "I am strongly pro-Ally. Three days the Press information for their private May 2nd, 1015, on the recommendation of ed by Finland in its dealings with the after the declaration of war I stated that uso, exchanging news for views, creating the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Provisional Government and the revolu- Spain should nght on the side of France. au atmosphere for their proposals, and Mediterranean Expeditionary Force tionary Eussion people. In the Finnish leaving the House of Commons in the cold dated February 24th, 1916, for valuable Diet the majority are Socialists, not be- I was in France, I was in Paris when until they asked for money. The House services rendered as Director of Medical cause the majority of the Fines are con the first Boche bomb dropped a few: of Commons bad become merely an instru. Services, Mediterranean Expeditionary vinced Socialists, but because at the time paces from me. On my return the pro
neat for registering decrees and providForce.
Surgeon-General Hathaway
of the elections the Socialist party repre Germans organised a great bostile demon- (Deputy ing supplies. Was this the moment, bo asked, when the authority of all Govern Director of Medical Services of the acnted the most energetic form of protest stration at Iran. My secretary was in- inents was being questioned and when the Western Command), these of a Deputy against Russian oppression. The Govers-jured, but since then 1 have brought Director of Medical Services in India of ment elected since the revolution is also those who called me 'traitor to my side apirit of revolution was abroad, to da
dominantly Socialist. The Finnish--the Allies" side. prive represcutative institutions of their 2200 rupees a month.
Socialist party has put forward a demand "I have given the Allies Commission legitimate functions, so exposing thera tootja a man wh the criticism of the people (Cheers.)
for the complete separation of Finland all possible information." What was the main issue Was bureau
from Russia. That is an academic de mand, but it must be admitted that the cracy to triumph over democracy? The Mesopotamia Report was an instance of
policy pursued by the Diet and the bureaucracy; the bureaucratic spirit was
Government, in spirit and effect. points very much in the same direction. The in the ascendant to-day; witness the growth of officialdom and the interference
Socialists of Finland do not make com of the Government in the rights of in-
non causo with the Socialists of Russia They demand internationalism from the dividuals.
Russian Socialists, but in their own actions display the narrowest form of nationalism. The Diet has, it is true, passed bills granting Russians in Finland equal rights, just as the Finns have equal rights with Russians in Russia, and also oppressive restrictions repealing the established by Finnish legislation on the Jews. But the Government refrains from presenting these bills for sanction.
MR. ASQUITE AT THE TREASURY.
Mr. Marriott, in seconding the motion, said he regretted exceedingly that Mr. Asquith ever left the Treasury, for from the moment of his departure the delugs began. When the right hon. gentleman ecased to be Chancellor of the Exchequer the expenditure was £160,000,000. In the following six years the annual expenditure increased by about 25 per cent, and
in
the last year of peace the c timated expenditure that for 1914-15 wad £207,000,000. Some of the causes of that increase were approved, at any rate platonically, by every party in the House. A contributory cause was the fact that the Treasury unfortunately had become a great spending instead of a controlling Department. The congestion of the busi- ness of the House, the increasing omnipol ence of the Executive over Parliament, and the growing independence of the ad- ministrative Departments had been fav ourable to the growth of uncontrolled expenditure.
have, effective control over the financial policy of the Government, and if that were not given now in a peaceable manner they would pursue their agitation until what was desired was obtained. (Cheers.) Mr. Lough said the White Paper relat ing to war contracte was a sufficient justi. cation for the motion. The whole of that paper was an admission of the most extravagant expenditure, and of a con- stant series of mistakes made by Minis ters and Departments throughout the War.
MR. BONAR LAW ON HIS DUTIES,
MUTUAL IRRITATION.
It
Soon after the beginning of the war
Señor Lorroux, who is one of the most i remarkable men in Spain, is the leader of the movenient against the Government,
He was formerly a sergeant in the Spanish army, and Brat came into promi- nence in 1900, when he was sent to Barce. lena to organise the general strike pro- voked by the prolonged persecution of the Anarchists
He became leader of the Barcelona irreconcilables, and was elected to the Cortes in 1901. Later he had to spend several years in exile in France and South America,
Д
REICHSTAG OPENED.
PRESIDENT ON THE DUTY OF DEFENCE.
כז
The Chancellor of the Exchequer-My hon. friend who moved the amendment said it was impossible for me to full the duties of Chancellor of the Exchequer with the other duties which I am trying to carry out. There is a good deal in holds them as an argument in its bargain- that criticism, but I should like to saying with the Russian Government on the that I certainly should not continue to revision of the Constitution. The Finnish be Chancellor of the Exchequer if I did Government disputes the authority of the not think that I was capable of perform- Russian Government to assume the place According to a Berlín telegram, the ing the duties. I have no object in formerly occupied in the Finnish Con- Reichstag was opened on July 5th with doing it on any other terms. In the first stitution by the Emperor-Grand Duke, speech by the President, who said:
The war continues to rage. What a place I am not fond of work. For the whose soaction alone gave validity to the
have never done laws passed by the Diet. The Finnish shocking amount of misery and distress, last 23 years at least anything which I could either persuade Government holds that the right to sane would have been spared the world if our somebody else or pay somebody else to tion laws should be placed in the hands enemies had agreed to the magnanimous offer of the Kaiser and our allies to find do for me (laughter), and in the second of a Finnish Government responsible to
The Russian Government and interests of all nations!
a peace which would preserve the honour Our place if we are influenced by personal posi- the Diet. tiun-I suppose we are the House will at objects that it has no right to agree to enemies war aims to-day are the same as onco see that my position is improved by such a radical change in the Constitution then-namely, the disruption and destruc- being Chancellor of the Exchequer, and without the authority of the Russian tion of Germany and her allies. It is A DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE.
cas have no object in continuing Constitutuent Assembly, and in the mean- the duty of us all unanimously to resist Mr. Montaga moved to substitute the that following amendment for the motion: to hold the post the moment I cannot time relations between the two peoples them with all our power and to defend
Germany in the future, cost what it may, "That, as a first step towards the better fulfil its duties.
are growing more strained. As a matter of fact I have been unable control of the public expenditure, it is:
The Reichstag discussed the first read- expedient to appoint a Departmental to give the time which I should have liked
There is no need to recount the numer. ing of the Bill providing for a credit of The Committee to consider and report what to give to my duties in the War Cabinet,
15,000,000,000 marks (£750,000,000). changes are necessary in the forms in and I think the result will be that the ous pin-pricks which cause mutual irrita. Minister of Finance, Count von Roedern, which Estimates and Accounts are laid Prime Minister-we discussed it in the tion. But one very important question said: Our monthly expenditure now under discussion is that of a loan to from February to May was 3,000,000,000 before this House to make them effective lust few days-will find it necessary to for that purpose; and, further, that it make other arrangements, and probably prevent a further fall in the rate of the marks (£130,000,000), as compared with is expedient to appoint a Select Com-to have an addition to the Cabinet to do rouble, which, from a normal average of the British daily war expenditure of Tittee on Parliamentary procedure." He the work which, if I were free, I should 260 marks (Finnish) for 100 roubles, has £7,800,000. The increase is due to expen said he was in no way hostile to the be able to do.
The persistent ditare on arms, munitions, relief, and the now gone down to 138 No one who is Chancellor of the Ex fall in the rouble is dae not only to payment of interest. The latest war loan, motion. But he thought the best course
to 13,120,000,000 marks to pursue was to appoint a Departmental chequer can fail to have a feeling, which general causes, but to the peculiar Finnish amounting Committee, with an admixture of expert I know is almost universal in the House, atmosphere, and to the fact that German (£650,000,000), fer exceeded our expecta basiness men, to decide, once and for all, that the scale of expenditure now is some.agents in Finland are circulating a con- us to the proper form in which the thing appalling, and that we have the siderable quantity
right to be assured that it is not greater Numerous Russian residents in Finland, Estimates should be presented to Houso; and & Select Committee to con than it ought to be I should be the troops of the garrison, and sailors of the last man to quarrel with the view that feet are placed in a very unpleasant posi Rider, in the light of the information sup plied by the Departmental Committee, the the House of Commons should have con- tion, for not only is the official rate of plied by sod of investing the House with trol in matters of this kind. The sug financial control. It was in order to rein- gestion has constantly been put forward that the Government and the House of force the House of Commons that he sug
He Commons were independent bodies and gested a Departmental Committee.
say for myself, and other would be willing to incorporate words to hostile. 1 we atat there should be a majority of Ministers have said the same, that the raembers of the House of Commons upon moment the House of Commons comes to
regard the Government as not represent it. Macnamara said that to presenting them Ministers would cease to hold token votes for the Nary had been the their offices.
I propose that we should appoint only possible course in the circumstances;
Dr
which never arose.
the
a Select Committee for two purposes.
of falso money.
war
tions, but such an achievement was pos- sible
owing to the greater possibilities for making profits and to savings. By June 1st 90 per cont. of the amount subscribed had been paid in. The gold reservo in the Reichsbank on June 15th had risen to of the export of the metal, but since then 2,533,000,000 marks (£126,650,000), in spite it has decreased by 76,000,000 (£3,800,000). Gold in the form of jewelry and coins must be handed to the Reichsbank.
the rouble low, but in practice it is extremely difficult to buy Finnish marks even at a much lower rate. The Russian Government tried to raise in Finland at loan of 200,000,000 marka to steady the
The Fossische Zeitung states that, at a exchange, the money to be spent mainly in discussion by the Constitution Committee Finland in paying for war orders and of the Reichstag on the question of the maintaining Russian troops. The Finan-electoral rights of the Federal States, the cial Committee of the Diet, has votes Socialist Herr Landsberg said that the against the loan, and it is very doubtful Reichstag system of franchise must be whether the Diet will approve it.
and
introduced into all the Federal States. We refuse" (he said) to allow foreign countries to interfere in our internal. affairs, but the enemy must be deprived of barbarism?? of the pretext that Germany is a bulwark.
Herr Kreth (Conservative) declared that a general, equal, and secret franchise “'Prussia" (he said) "is not easily to was out of the question for Prussia.
The Prussian its Prussian
Federal States."
Herr Müller (Meiningen) defended the
but, without pledging himself in any way, First, to consider whether additional A delegation of Socialists from the All. he agreed that the question whether some more detailed information could be given control can be obtained, and in what Russian Congress of Workers' was worthy of consideration. During the way it can best be obtained, as a perman. Soldiers Delegates went specially to war, particularly in its early days, con- eat arrangement; and, secondly, to do Helsingfors to expostulate with their tracts had to be made in a form for which at once what was done by those Cabinet Finnish comrades. The Finnish Socialists the only justification was to be found in Committees of which my right hon. friend were unyielding, but deferred their final the urgency of the position; and some spoke; that is, to go into the Depart answer. Their demand that the Russian times expenditure had to be incurred, and ments, examine the methods of expendi Government should pledge as security for was rightly incurred, to meet a situation ture, and make recommendations either the loan the Russian telegraphs, railways, be won over to democracy. without reducing the instant readiness Departments. That is my proposal. It is in Finland haa aroused great irritation, character, and the Reichstag has no right
even among advanced penditure of a wasteful and useful kind it only carries out what is my own view, The Russians are mortified by the fact and improve and extend the system of that we ought to do something more to that the country which has not supplied checking war expenditure, they would satisfy not merely the House of Commons, troops for the war, and has, in fact, right of the Reichstag to interfere, and serve the highest ends of patriotism by but the country, that we are doing all suffered less from the war than most neu. this view was also supported by members
v can to get valna for the money we tral countries, should in the hour of trial of the National Liberal Party-enter. making it possible to continus more vigorously and effectively the prosecution pend: As regards the terms of refer fail to support the people from whom it
ehee, I cannot give them to-day.
received liberation. The arguments of of the war.
Mr. T. Cecil said that the most effec In reply to questions the Chancellor the Fians are that they dread the instabi tive Committee would be one of real of the Exchequer added that the Com- lity of the present Russian Government; business men, who, as it were, would be mittee would probably consider at once, they fear reaction and now oppression; constantly looking over the shoulders of whether there should be a change in the they wish to place "hemselves under inter the officials in the Departments. Short of form of accounts. The terms of reference antional protection, and are trying to that, he saw no course but to put real would require very careful thought, and seize the opportunity given by the present business men into the Departments for he suggested that they should be agreed condition of Russia to exact strong guar- the supervision of the details of adminis pon between the Government and ex- antees for their freedom, A more imme- Ministers and the House generally. At diate occasion for the insistence of the Sir Tudor Walters said that slowly, but the time when a motion was made to set Finns is the frequent interference of the up the Committee the House would have recently established soldiers and sailors' surely, the powers of the House over the terms of reference before them, and committees of the local Bussian garrison finance were being whittled down and would have an opportunity of consider in Finnish internal affairs. Here there taken away, and the Executive of the day, ing both matters. instead of being the servant of the House, Major G. Collins having expressed his was becoming its muster. (Hear, hear.) thanks to the right hon. gentlemant for The supporters of the motion wanted, and having mot the wishes of the supporters wore determined that the House should of the motion very fairly, the adjourn
(Continued at foot of next column,) ment of the debate was agreed to.
trition.
is real and definite cause for discontent, for they have actually tried to browbeat their own middle classes and terrorise the Diet by threatening to use against them Russian soldiers.
(Continued at foot of next enlumn,)
The whole position is extremely unfor tunate, because the Finns, by their own shortsightedness, are damaging their own interests and harming the cause of the small nationalities. The Finas, however their constitution may ultimately shape itself, will always be neighbours of the Russian people. A little patience, a little sympathy, a little generosity now would bave proved directly profitable to the Finns in the long run, whereas their pricent policy is towing the seeds of bitterness and suspicion that will render the task of mutual adjustment for more difficult in the future. Those who warmly sympathise with both peoples cannot but deeply regret the present misunder- standing-
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