TELEGRAMS.
(Reuter's Servios to The “ Telegraph."}
EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
Mr, LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH.
Continuing, the Premier said :--
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1916.
Prussia, since she got into the hands of that caste, has been a bad neighbour, arrogant, threatening and bullying, shifting woundaries at her will, taking one fair field after another from her weaker neighbours. With her belt ostenta- tiously full of weapons of offence and "ready at a moment's notice to use them, she has always been an unpleasant and disturbing neighbour in Europe. (Hear bear). It is difficult for those living thousands of miles away to understand whet it has meant to those who lived near ber. Even here with the protection of the broad seas between us we know what a disturbing factor the Prussians were with the constant naval menace, but even we can scarcely realise what it haa meant to France and Russia. Now that this war has been forced by the Prussian military leaders upon France, Russia, Italy and ourselves, it would be cruel folly not to see to it that this swashbuckling through the streets of Europe to the disturbance of all harmless and peaceful citizens shall be dealt with now as an offence against the law of nations... “ (Cheers). The more word that lead Belgium to her own destruction will not satisfy Europe any more. We all be lieved it, we all trusted it. but it gave way to the first pres sure of temptation, and Europe has been plunged into the vortex of blood. We will therefore wait until we hear what terms and guarantees the Gerunu Government offers-uther than those, better than those, and surer than those which she so lightly broke, and in the niesutime we shall put our trust in an unbroken samy rather than in a broken faith. (Loud cheers).
(Portion missing.)
And from this position to treat as trifling real setbacks. Britain has never appeared at its best except when confront- ed with a vol danger.
**Let us for a moment look at the worst. The Rumanian blunder was unfortunate; but at the worst it prolongs the war. It does not alter the fundamental facts of the war. I cannot help hoping that, it may even have malutary effects in calling the "attention of the Allies to the obvious defects in the Allies organisation-nut merely the organisation of each but the organisation of the whole. If it does that and braces them to fresh efforts fit may prove, bad as it is, a blessing. That is the worst. It has been à real setback, it is the one cloud well it is the darkest cloud...and it appeared on a clearing horizon. We are doing our best to make it impossible that that disaster should lead to worse. That is why we have taken in the last few days this very strong action in Greece. We mean to take no risks there. We have decided to take a definite decisive action and I think it has succeeded. We have decided to recognise the agents of that great Greek statesman, M. Venizelos, (Cheers).
** I should like to say one word abonį the lessons of the fighting on the western front, about the significance of the whole of that great struggle one of the greatest ever waged in the history of the world. It is full of encouragement and hope. Just look at it-an absolutely new Army. The old army had done its duty and spent itself in the achievement of that preal took. This is a new Army, But a year ago it was ure in the earth of Britam, yea, and of Ireland and it became iron. (Chusra). It has passed through the fiery furance and the enemy knows it is now fine steel, (Cheers). This new Army, now rep, new officers, and generals new to this kind of work, have faced the greatest army in the world, the best equipped, the iscut treund, and have beaten them. Beaten them! Beuten them! (fasud cheers). Battle after battle, day after day, week after week, in the strongest entreuch- monta uver devised by hunna skill, they lave driven them t by a valur, which is credildi. Tist is something which gives us hope, which fills you all with pride in the nation to which they belong. It is a fart, and it is a fact full of signifi- cance for us and for the foe, (Ubeers) The enemy has seen that Army grow under his very eyes. They ace becoming reterane; and therefore basang our confiduce upon these facts I am as convinod as ever 1 was of ultimate victory if the auton proves as steady, as valorous, as ready tar sacrifice and learn and endure as that great Army on the Summe.” (Lood cheers),
The Premer proosaded to refer to the new Government, remarking that he was anxious in doing so to avoid all issues that excited irritation or controversy or disunion. It must not be assumed that be accepted as complete the accou which had been given of the way in winch the Government was formed. He was convinced that tho' controversies of the past. would not help regarding the future, therefore so far as be was concerned be placed them on one side. He pro ceeded to speak of the unusual character and composition of the Government as an executive lady, The House had realised that there had been separation between the function of Premier and Leader of the House. That was because these two offices were more than one man could undertake.
There were three characteristics in which the present Administration might be said to have departed periape from precedent. The first was the concentration of the executive in a very few hands. The second was the choosing of men of administrative and business capacity rather than men ol Parliamentary exporicuce, where they were unable to obtain both, for the headelup a great department. The third was the more fraak aard ful; recognition of the partnership of Labour in the Government. No Government in this country had ever contained such a large representation of Labour. They realised that it was impossible to conduct the war without getting the complete and auqualified support of Labour, and also they were anxious to obtain Labdar's sssistance and counsel for the purpose of the conduct of the war,
Previous Administrations had been pelee structures, or; ganised for a different purpose nad different conditions. A“ craft suitable for a river or canal was not exactly the kind of vessel for the high sous, lie was unt here referring to the last Cabinet but to the old system of Cabinet where the heads of every departamen; were represented inside the Cabinet. Họ was convinced that the new form of Government was the Lost for a war where quick decision was necessary above everything. He declared that the Allies hind suffered disaster aftor disaster through tardiness of decision and action. You cannot run a war with a Sanhedrin. That was tha meaning of the Cabinet of five and one of it members daing sentry duty outaide. It had been suggested that there was * danger of lack of co-ordination; but he pointed out that it was the old practice to have beads of departments outside the Cabinet, and whenever anything concerned that parti- ' calar departament, the head of the department could afiend Executive:Committee meetings to discuss the probleme requiring solution.
He thought this a very effective practice, much better, especially in time of war, than keeping men away from their departamente discussing things which did not directly concern them. He emphasised that henceforth, there would be no distinction between the old War Committoo and the War Cabinet. There was not the slightest attempt to deviate
in any particular from the complete control of Parliament, which must always be suproma.
"
TELEGRAMS.
MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH.
Mr. Lloyd George stated that the Government was in- vestigating the French system, whereby the Ministers had to appear before Parliamentary committees, where questions could be asked them and they could give an account which they would not care to give in public. It was possible that they might refer the quiter to Parliament for settlement.
Coming to the work of the Goromment, Mr. Lloyd George referred to the Ministry of Labour. He hoped this department would not confine itself merely to settling dis putes. He hoped it would become in a real sense a ministry with the well-being of Labour in its charge. He also hoped that this department would take a leading part in assisting in the mobilisation of Labour for the purposes of the war.
With regard to shipping, he emphasised that it was never so vital to the life of the nation as at present, and the Gov- ernment felt that the time had come to take more complete control of all ships in Britain and place them in practically the same position as the railways, so that during the war shipping would be nationalised in the real sense of the term. The prodigious profits which were made out of freights con. tributed largely to the high cost of commodities and made it difficult for the Government to induce organised Labour to give up its privileges.
Undue and extravagant profits in shipping were intoler able in war time. Sir Joseph MacLay was conferring with the Admiralty and Shipping Control Committee and Mr. Lloyd George hoped soon to be able to inform the House of the plans which he recommended not only for the more effective utilisation of ships already on the register but also for the speedy ..construction of more ships to replace the wastage. Regard- ing the coal mines the Government felt that it ought to sasume more direct control over the whole industry.
The food problem was undoubtedly serious and would be grave unless not merely the Government but the nation was prepared to grapple with it courageously without loss of time. He pointed out that the available harvest of the world had failed. The surplus available for export from Canada and the United States had diminished to a disastrous extent, The Argentine promised badly, that of Russia was not available and that of Australia meant almost prohibitive transport, Our own harvest was a poor one, and he did not believe that more than throw-eighths of the usual sowing had taken place. It was true to a certain extent that you could make up by Spring sowing, but that never produces anything comparable to Winter sowing. The submarine menace in this respect was not the most important to consider. Under these circumstances the late Government decided to ap point a Food Controller. The latter was assisted by the ablest experts in the House. At the head of the Board of Agriculture they had a man who was singularly gifted,
and who had as thorough a knowledge of the principles and practices of this question as any man in this or any other
country.
The problem is a double one, namely distribution and production. Respecting both we must call upon the people of the country to make real sacrifices; but it is essential that the sacrifices should be equal. (Cheers). Over-consumption by the afiuent must not be allowed to create a shortage for the Icea well-to-do. He hoped he could appeal to men and women of all ranks to play the game. (Cheers). Without the help of the whole nation we could accomplish nothing. The whole nation must assist us so to distribute our resources that there shall be no man, woman or child who will auffer hunger because someone else is getting too much. (Cheers). Regarding production, every equare yard must be made to produce food. All who had the opportunity must regard it as a duty to the State to assist in producing and contribut ing to the common stock. If this were done we should have food without any privation, without may want, everybody having plenty of the best and healthiest lood. It means sacrifices; but what serices Talk to a pian who has returned from the Some of who has been through the hunting wretch- cunens of a winter campaiga and you will Baow something of what those gallant men are enduring for their country. (Hear, bear).
They are enduring much and hazarding all while we are living in comfort and security. You cannut bave absolute equality of sacrifice in war, init you can have equal readiness to sacrifice. Let the nation as a whole place its comforts, its luxuries, its indulgences, its elegances on a national alter consecrated by such sacrifices as our heroes have inade. Lei us prociam during the war a National Lent. The nation will be the better for it and stronger for it mentally, morally and physically. (Cheers).
Our armies might drive the enemy from the battered villages of France, across the devastated plains of Belgium. They might huri them acroes the Rhine in battered disarray; but unless the nation as a whole shoulders part of the burden of victory it will not proht by the triumph, for it is not what a nation gains, it is what a nation gives that makes it great (Loud cheers).
The Premier proceeded to say that it was intolerable that any section should be permitted to inske exceptional profits out of these sacrifices. Much had been done by the Jato Administration to arrest unfair private "profiteering," but the Government had come to the conclusion that it could not ask the nation for more aerifices without even moro drastic steps yet being taken.
After outlining what had already been done to meet this situation, Mr. Lloyd George stated that Mr. Bonar Law and others were now carefully examining the problem. He hoped to be able to make an announcement shortly. The course the Government intended to adopt was quite clear. The nation must be asked to make further sacrifices in order to win the war, and the road must be cleared by action of this kind
The Prime Minister next turned to the question of the mobilisation of labour reserves, without which, let there be no mistake, we should not be able to pull through. This was a question not of years but months, perhaps of weeks, and un- Joss the labour of the country was used to the best advantage and every man called up to render such service to the State as he could best give, victory was beyond our reach, The problem was a difficult one. To complete what bad siready been done the speaker maintained that the Government ought to have the power to say that every minn who was not taken into the Army, whatever his position or rank, was really employed on work of na tional importance.. At present it was only the man who was fit for military service and had not established a claim for exemption upon whom the na tion could call. The unfit maaand the exempted man were surely under the same moral obligation, but still there were no means of enforcing it. It was with this imperfect organ. ization of our industrial man-power that wo were called upon to confront an enemy who not only exercised to the full his undoubted right over his own population, but had intro- duced a practios liitherto unknown in civilized warfare of removing the civilian inhabitants fróin occupied territory to make good the shortage of labour in his `own factory,
TELEGRAMS.
MR. ASQUITH ON THE "PROPOSALS."
Mr. Asquith succeeded Mr. Lloyd George, and congra tulated him on his scossion to the Premiership. He de fined attitude towards the now Government a most friendly, and defended the late Administration against the sccusations of ineffective prosecution of the war. Referring to the peace proposals, he said the latter were wrapped up with the familiar dialect of Prussian arrogance. He asked why a Power professing,itself conscious of military superior- ity and ultimate victory was shouting universally for peace. Amid cheers be declared that the proposals were born of inilitary and economic necessity. Peace must be honourable, not shamefaced-no patched up precarious compromise, but one achieving the purpose for which we entered the war. Such a posce we will gladly accept but anything short thereof we are bound to repudiate by every obligation of honour and above all by the debt we are to those, especially to the young, who have given their lives for what they believe to be a worthy cause. "I say plainly and emphatically that I see nothing in the German Note to give me the least reason to believe they are in the mood to give the Allies reparation for the past and security for the future. If they are in such a mood let them say so. (Loud cheers.) ·
THE GREEK
MUDDLE."
An Athens message, dated December 19 says:--
Greece has addressed to the Entente a Note rerion- ing the situation since the acceptance of the ultimatum and the difficulties resulting from events in the islands and from the delay in the formulation of the Entcate Powers' demands for reparation and the maintenance of the blockade. The Government implies that it may be compelled to au pend the southward movement of troops pending the solu tion of the present situation,
CHINESE
THEATRICAL. By subscriptions paid by
Uver $19,000 for war charities,
The following communication haa. been sent to us by the Hon. Mr. ER. itallifax :----
Hongkong, 20th Dec, 1816. Sir, The series of theatrical per- formances inaugurated by the Chin- ese Sub-Committee in aid of the wa Charities Fund having been carried out successfully, I have, now, the honour to forward, herewith, a cheque for 819,600.00, the amount ci the nett proceeds, a statement cij accounts and a list of the members The subscribed 50.00 each to the capital fund
++
members of the commit- 100 ............
On behalf of the Sub-Committee, Sir Robert Ho Tung I avail myself of this opportunity on Mr. Lau Chu-pak tender my sincere thanks to the unir. Chan Kai-ining dermentioned companies, firms and gentlemen for theft hearty co-opera
won and assistedoc :-viz:
The Hongkong Electric Com- pany for supplying current gratis for days and nights;
The Yiu Wa Company for the
loan of electric lamps and free installation;
"
Cheung Man-hing:
80.00
Pin Heung-yan ...................... 550,00
Ya Wai-pun ....................... 60,00..
H
Li Shun-fan
80.00
Wong Lan-sang
80,00
JJ
Fung Ei-chouk
00
33
Fung Kuk-i
43
30.00
"
Yung Chi-ming
80,00
12
Ho Wing-obun
50.00
Ng Hok-kwa .....
80.00
Ngan Luk
80.00
» Young Kang-tong
50,00
*
Yau Sui-chi
50.00
*
Tam Pak-aiu
50.00
Mok Kon-sang
50.00
T
Cheung Yoo-sang
30.00
Young Sui-wong
50.00
Tang Sui-yuk
60.00
» Ng Wai Chi
50,00
"
Kwok Sat-ting
50.00
Woo Sin-kak
50.00
"
Yeung Ching-shek
50.00
› Lau Sing-yin
$0.00
++
Li Yunsang ....
60.00
*
50,00
Wong Cheuk-hing
80.00
33
Siu Woon
50.00
Fuk To-ti
3.
80.00
Chos Po-ren
80.00
I
Cheung Tin-san
80.00
71
Cheung Kap
50,00
Leung Kai-um
50.00
20
Lo Chun-ku
150,00
•
Cheng Chung-ping
150.00
Fung Fuk-tin
80.00
Lam Sau-ting
10.00
M
Chiu U-tin
50,00
Lai Chau-tang
80.00
B$
Chiu Wa-sam
30.00
......10,380.00
1
Chan Chun-obuen
50,00
"
Sundry collections and
Ko Wan-kum
50.00€
interest
15.06
"
Tam Hok-po
30.00
"
Sale of cakes and tea
Chan Pik-cbuen
"
50.00
at the theater
$72.27
Wong Pik-chuca
50.00
Sale of tickets at the theatre ............... Sale of reserved seats
Leung Pui-chi
50.00
1,002.52
Tong Yat-chusn
50,00
Total
9,551.00
$22,121.17
Tam Hok-ping
50.00
Pun. Sui-cho
50.00
Lau Li-wa
60.00
Ho Mun-sang
$50.00
Lau Yik-cheuk
50,00
Lau Siu-chuea
50.00
List of Subscribers to the Capital Pund.
Lau -fong
50.00
Tong Yan-po
50.00
Kwok Lok.
60.00
€50.00
Chan U-Can
50.00
50,00
17
Chan Pak-pang
50.00
50.00 Mok Ching-kong
50.00
He Fouk
50,00
Chan Taz-lan .........
50,00
17
Ho hom-tong Li Yau-chuen
50,00
17
Chung Chor-ting
50.00
50.00
Chan Siu-ki
נו
50.00
Lo Cheung shiu
*
Ma Ying Pia
50.00
50,00
Et
Chau Cheuk-fan
50,00
U Pan-nam
80.00
5
The Yam-chi
Sin Tak-fan
SU.Ou.. $50,00
Ho Yuk-ting
$0.00
. Nghe mọi
50,00
10
Li Wing-kwong
00.00
th
Lo Chor-san
50,00
"
Chan Chik-yue
2)
30.00 Lo Lai-un
30.00
Chan hang-yue
50.00
Li Yeung-im
50.00
2
Leung You-po
50.00
"
Fung Ping-shan
50.00
»
"J
30.00 Li Hei-chun
50,00
30.00 , Fang Chung-chak
60.00
Kwok Siu-laa
50.00
"
La Yan-un
50.00
1/
50.00 Ma Chu chiu
€0.00
Che Maw-hing
50.XX
Chan Ching-bok ...........
30.00
Ja
Au Chak-man
$0.00
Lam Heung-lun,
80.00
23
Un Kam-w
$0.00
Wong In-tung
50.00
Kuan and the Lok To To ros- taurants for free supply of tea and cakes for 4 days and nights;
Sru Ying-chau
50.00
Kwok Yam-kai
50,00
to
Wong Kam-look
50.00
Lai Man-wai
50.00
"
Tăng Chinfong
$0.00
Lai Hoi-san
150.00
Wong Ping-sun
30.00 "
Tai Chi-bo
80.00
The Shing Fuk. Ki firm for the supply of gauze lanters and sundry articles;
"
Chan Ha
50.00
+
Chan Lok-chuan
50.00
"
Lo Shiu-boi
Chan Ki
50.00
50.00
Li Ngoi lan
50.00
,, Pong Waiting
10.00
Lo Kit-ping
34
50.00 Ng Kio cho
50.00
Li Po-kwai
50.00 "Wong Kwok-sun
50.00
J
Toag Lai-chuon
Chan Chor-hing
"
Chan Kit-wan ....
$3,00 3
50.00 H
60.00 +
Yeung Sai-ngam
50.00
Ip Bau-chi
50.00
Ma Fut-ting
50.00
12
Ma Wing-chan
1
Kwan Fook-ng
F
Mui Hok-wan
£0.00
50.00
£0.00 37
#T
Lam Yik-hang
30.00
U King-su
50.00
Muan Hang-kiv
550.00
#1
Woo Wan-cho
Chan Lim-fu
60,00
15
30.00
FI
Un Chi-yeuk
20.00
"Fong Young-chan
50.00
Wong Mow-lam
50.00
ts
Ho Yeung pin
$50.00
2
Ho Bai-wing
$0.00
Lo Chup-ssa
50.00
JT
San Chau-bing
50.00
Wong Sui-leung
50.00
"
She Tat-choi ....
30.00
» Ip Li-kong
50.00
"
Cheung Sam-w500
80.00
73
Leung Kin-sang
$0.00
17
Li Bing-ku
50.00
**
Foo Yik-pang
10.00
"
Lai Ching-fin
advertisements from time to time;
"
Chan Chi-cheuk
ET
Lam Woo
가
Châu Tung-hinh
Im Pan-tak
*
Fung Heung-chuen
60,00 +
30.00 ". 60.00
50.00 M
00.00
50,00 11
Ip Nam-an
50.00
Chi-loong
80.00
Wong Sin-bam
50.00
Chan Cheuk-hing
10.00
U Tat-a
50.00
U to-sang
60,00
Luk Fung-ahan ....
50,00
I
Chan Buming
80.00
Mok Cho chuen
So Chun-ling
50.00
50,00
77
Wong Chin-Lan
50,00 #1
Li King-lau
30.00
"
Lau Tak-po
80.00
$1
Chan Chung phat
50.00
Lan Kwan-po
50.00
"
Choy Wai-foo
10.00
Ho Hang tong
50,00
Choy Chi-tai
80.00
#1
Un Man-chuen
50.00
Kan Yuk-ka
150.00
"
Chan Saksan ve
50,00
11
Leung Hiu-cho
50.00
"
Chui Woon-m43
50.00
"
Leung But-o
50,00
TI
Fung Pok-um
Bo Siu-nang
60.00
50.00
75
Chau Ngan-ting -...
*80,00
да
To Si-tun
50.00
P
Lo Chung-wan
Chan Sau-dan
50.00
}
50,00
"
Chan Chi-pok
60.00
斟
Là Đang
50.00
Ho Ngo-le
$0.00
*
Loung Sun-po
50.00
Ip Ina choco
80,00
90
Chan Tin-san
50.00
Mok Man-cheung
Li Sui-kam
50.00
90,00 "
Eo Kwong
50.00
...
Lo Sun-wan
150,00
"
Ho Iu
60,00
#
Ban Pak-hang
50,00
Bo Loung
50.00
Lo Cheuk-wan
50:00
Ho Kit
JA
50,00
Loung Hung-chiu
50.00
$2,472.68
"
Wong Kwong-tin
50.00
Wong Kam-cho ..............
60,00
22
Tao Bin-wan
09.00
ti
Ho Kwai-boi
80,00
10
Chan But-ngam
50,00
Lam Sin-lai
20.00
D
48.40 10,800.00, Wong Ping-in
Yuk-oht
U Tak-wo
30,00
50,00
50,00
Chang Yun-hing
$0.00
Lo Fukki
60,00
La Yik Bociety (Balt fak
$23,121.17
#
Chau p-ting ........
40.00
Mr. Ho Ngok Lau for reduction
in the hire of the theatrical Com- раду;
Mr. Li Ping for creeting the re-
quired scaffoldings gratis; The Yunn Yuan Company los the construction of the boxes Ju the auditorium, gratis;
The To Yuan, the To To Sin
31
Tho Wing Chun and Fat Hing!"
gardenera for loan of flowers;
The Wing On Company for loan"
of mixty odd rolls of silk;
The Sun Company for lean of silki
decorating articles;
The Man Yiu Wing and Cheung
Loo firms for loan of chaire; Messrs. Li Chung and Li Wo for free transportation of the actors' luggage, etc;
The Wab Taze Yat Po, the Chun Wan Ya Fo, the Kung Wo Po, the Chung Ngoi Sun Po, the
Eung Yik Po, the Tại Kwong Po and the Chung Kwok Po for free
Mesara Chan Kang-yue, Ma Ying Piu, Chan Ha, Ip Laa Cheun, Chan Kai Ming, Li Po Kwei, Ual Hung Kiu, Kwok Lok, Lai Ying Koe, Lam Siu Lai, Choy Cheong, Un Kam Wa and others for tak- ing a most active part in the disposal of tickets, decorations and general supervision, and The Chinese Police Reserve with
Inspectors, J. M.. Wong and} Wong Taps in charge for main- taining order both in and out. side the theatre. —I adı, Sir, Your obedient servant, LAU CHU PAK.
Chairman,
The Honourable Mr. E. IL. Hallifax,
Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
Statement of Account.
To Hire of theatrical Com
pany and
Sundry. expenses etnik
cost of acroll to be presented to the then- tifical Company Noti balance ...........
31
.........
Toted......
ו
NgHonch
Sum Pak-ming
Ip Btun-kam