1917-08-10 — Page 7

REFORM IN ROUMANIA.

PEASANT LOYALTY.

THE NEW LABOUR PARTY.

[FROM THE TIMES

"

CORRESPONDENT]

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 10r. 1917.

FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA WAR IDEALS OF AMERICA looking back I feel that no harm was

· THE REPUBLICAN AGITATION,

LABOUR AND THE GERMAN DANGER.

The House of Assembly at Cape Town was crowded on the occasion of Mr. Merriman's resolution condemning the Republican propaganda which is being

carried on in South Africa,

During a visit to the front King Ferdinand, addressing his troops, promis. we deem reforms, the necessity of which has been felt for over 20 years. Land and

Mr. Merriman emphasized the need for the right to rule their own country were required by the five million peasants, and the House of Assembly to give a clear and were repeatedly promised to them by the unmistakable load on the question, political parties, but the promised were

but the proms became While, he said, the Nationalist pro never fulfilled. roully bad, and the peasants were starvingpaganda was regarded lightly by educated while the landowners and farmers were people it was different in country dis

deliberate rolling in money, spending their incometrics, where there was in the south of France or the cubs at movement to destroy the constitution in Bukarest, the prasants lost their temper, favour of a Republican form of Govern and the docile animal who had worked. the whole year for his master became furious and uncontrollable.

This happened twice in 1888 and in March, 1907. Thus two outbursts were crushed, and the peasants paid with their lives for their attempt to get the land which they had worked for centuries. Each time after such an outburst the Cabinet was changed, a new Government date into power, promised large reforms, were and bold new elections. There scientific discussions in Parliament; beautiful social and economic theories

That, Mr. Merriman declared in load to civil war. He described as devil's the most emphatic manner, could only work the efforts which were being made to divide the two white races in the country.

He said he considered the danger in fementing artificial distine tions very real and terrible, and asked the House to testify that it stond by the Constitution.

Mr. Louw, a Dutch-speaking Afrikander member for the Cape constituency of Colesborg, seconded the motion.

Mr. de Waal (Nationalist) moved an

amendment regretting that efforts should

MR. BALFOUR ON HIS MISSION

ENTHUSIASM FOR THE COMMON CAUSE.

At the House of Commons recently the Empire Parliamentary Association gave luncheon to welcome Mr. Balfour on

his return from the United States and Canada. Mr. Balfour is the chairman of the United Kingdom Branch of the Association, and Mr. Asquith. who presided, is the vice-president. A larg and representative gathering included the Prime Minister.

MR. ASQUITH'S SPEKUL..

done and that much good was recom plished. (Cheers.) If I muy say so in the absence of my colleagues in the Mission, they performed their different tasks with admirable discretion, great energy, and a full appreciation of all that is involved in the complex operation of bringing together the effective forces the United States Do not let anybody

of two great communities like Britain and

suppose for a moment that the success of the Mission was due to the personal quits. fications, whatever they may have been, of the members of the Mission. It was due to far greater, for deeper, and, UN would fain hope and believe, far more permanent causes than anything purely personal could be

After acknowledging the boundless hospitality and kindness which was extended to the Mission, Mr. Balfour proceeded: --

were developed by members who had estudied in the big universities of Western be made by certain politicians for the have not always in that dim and fust not in the power of individuals, however

tion of the wretched peasants remained Europe, laws were passed, but the situa the same. The reason for this is not

ifficult to understand,

purpose of creating the impression that the natural aspirations of the inhabit The Buzaantants regarding independence were dis were represented by 11 or 19 members of loyal and unlawful, and expressing the Parliament, while the Inndowners had inion that such efforts were calculated 182 representatives. It was quite obvious to disturb mutual understanding and co that unless an extraordinary situation operation between the two white races. occurred to fores the upper class, they would never agree to part with their properties, which gave them a huge in- come without any effort on their part.

ANSWERING THE CALL.

Mr. de Waal's amendment further con-

sidered such action to be in direct con flict with the freedom of discussion which was one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and with the declared objects of the Allies to secure to inch separate people the freedom of its own destiny, with which objects the House declares itself in full accord."

fullest possible account, and we are met here today to congratulate him, and not less to congratulate ourselves, on the resalt.

What moves me most, and what I think France, is something much deeper than moves people in this country and in

this kindly hospitality the spontaneous exhibition of enthusiasm for the common cause. This had nothing whatever to do with the personal qualifications or dis qualifications of any individual. It had to do with the deeper foeling of sympathy which manifestly animated the great American community from North to Sonth and East to West. It might have been in the power of emissaries who wore either unfortunate or iniliscreet to check that manifestation of feeling, but it was

endowed, to create it. It had not com froin the Mission The Mission was the occasion of its exhibition and not the cause of the exhibition, and that is the real value which has issued from any such publie efforts of the Mission. The result of those efforts has been to give to the great American community the quest moving, fashion what they felt of power of showing in the strongest, the the great cause in which, as they knew, our Allies in France and we ourselves in this country have been engaged for nearly three years-the cause of world freedoni. They know the suorifices that had been made and that were being made, they sympathized with the cause in which these sacrifices were undertaken, and when the moment came in which they felt bound to show on which side they stood they welcomed any opportunity of mani festing their deep moral and spiritual. with the policy which agreement

by their present is being pursued Allies on this side of the Atlantic. Thing is the real significance of the Mission of which I was the head. That is the great, result which it is having and has had a result, the value of which cannot be measured by its effect on this war, great as this effect is likely to be, but which will, I hope outlast in the history of the world the life of oven the youngest of those whom I am now addressing. I regard this Mission not as the cause, but ng the indication, of one of the most beneficent developments of international relations which has ever occurred in the history of the world. (Cheers) - Mont alliances, as students of history know, are used upon the temporary hopes and temporary agreements of aim bet west nations which join together each for its own purpose, and whose alliance lusts only so long as the same end benefits both countries. Such alliances are inevitably doomed. They are based upon temporary necessities, and when the occasion is over they vanish leaving behind, it may be, friendly or unfriendly relations, but not leaving behind anything necessarily as a permanent basis. I hope, and I believe, that the co-operation in this war between Great Britain and America is not bad upon the fact that each has something to get out of the war for itself, but is basert upon a deep congruity and harmony of moral feeling and moral ideals. That is its origin, and so also will be its his tory. It will endure as long as our two nations are content to pursue these greates ideals, and I pray God it may be for ever. (Cheers.)

The toast of "Mr. Balfour was given

errand from which their guest had by the Chairman, who said that the

returned was universally reclaimed in this country. When I look round this room-continued Mr. Asquith-J see few, and outside there are a vast number more, who have been divided from Mr. Balfour by sharp differences of politica! opinion in days which, measured by the rade chronology of the calendar, are not far away, but which in the world in be almost indefinitely reracie. I myself which we are at present living spont tu

reeeding past seen precisely eye to eye to my great regret (laughter) and I hope in some measure to his with Mr. Balfour in matters of considerable controversy There is no country in the world where domestic controversy and its concomitant the party system, is carried on with more apparent accuracy than in the United suorgy or, in lines of stress, with more Kingdom. But when the fighting is over or when it is for the moment suspended the power and the disposition to measure with candour and with impartiality the fuil merit of our public men is a The

of opening

the -win found

characteristic of the English people. Roumanis in the midst of a new discus

suppose the same is true in perhaps sion on reforms, which would bave had

Lieut-Colonel Creswell (the Labour varying degrer, of appropriateness of the the same result as the previous talk When the King called his Army to the Leader), supporting Mr. Merriman's Scotch und also the Irish and Welsh colours to fight the old enemy, the Austro motion, referred in striking terms to the It is natural in these circumstances and Hungarians and their allies, not a single rent African campaigns. In connection with people like ourselves that all parties peasant failed. They all rushed to their with the post-war settlement he declared should welcome, is they did welcome regiments. When misfortunes came, when that he was convinced that the working the choice of Mr. Balfour to represent the disastrous retreat took place, most of classes of South Africa would be filled this country at a unique opportunity the prusacts followed the Army boys of with alarm at any possibility of South-in Anglo-Saxon history. We know from 15 and upwards flocked to the part of West Africa's being turned to the every quarter that he and his associates Roumania preserved from invasion, and Germans. They in South Africa had not have turned that opportunity to the put themselves at the disposal of the assisted in the war from any desire to military authorities, enabling the latter take land, but because they believed it to reorganize a new Army which should to be right, and they could not contem get back what was lost. Unfortunately it plate with equanimity the re-establishment Was not the same with some of the great of German power on their borders. Thoy

What was it that provided the ocea Inndowners. Under the pretext of dis strongly objected to such an idea. Gorsion for this mission of such exceptional agreement with the foreign policy of the many wanted a strong protectorate from interest and such extraordinary moment Government, any of them, although West Africa across Central to

East The accession of America to the Allied officers of the reserve, remained behind Africa. The Nationalists talked about a

cause was a landmark, not only in the with the enemy. The proportion of Republic. Liest Colonel Creswell asked course of this war, but in the progress of lesertions was much higher among officers them to contemplate a strong Germany civilization. It was a proof, I think the an among man. Those who had suffered stretching across the continent with most signal and most convincing proof overy hardship in peace and war did not harbours and submarine base, and a that could be given, that the greatest of fail to do their duty, while many of huge native population trained and the free communities of the world not those who had everything-honours, drilled as black soldiers in a huge mer engaged in the war had realized that the wealth, privileges, rights-committed the cenary army South Afrion would then victory of Germany by such means as crimes, and became traitors and deserters be confronted with a state of affairs which she was employing, in such a cause as Suoh proofs of loyalty and love of their lind niver confronted it in the past but in which she was engaged, for country on the part of the peasants could would be at the mercy of a German Black such a purpose as she had set herself could not leave the King cold. He w African Empire. He asked how long deliberately to accomplish, would for that immediate measures must be taken. South Africa would then enjoy the direct generations to come quite hopelessly have any decided to ask the Government to freedom it had to-day, He emphasized barred the way to the attainment of those put an end to the unfortunate position the fact that the Labour Party would ideals of unfettered self-development, of his best soldiers. Himself setting the continue to support the Government in political, intellectual, and spiritual, example by offering the large estates of its war policy:

which are the best hope of humanity. But the Crown to the peasants, he asked the General Botha then spoke He laid with nations, as with individuals, it is Government to introduce & Bill by which stress on the fact that ever since South one thing to reach a conclusion and an Iand could be given to all pensants who Africa had received its Constitution the other thing to act upon it, America did had taken part in the war. Had the pro British Government had never 00 A both. (Cheers.) There was with her nu posed reforms been madɑ a year or two single occasion Interfered with South letting of I dare not wait upon ago, they would certainly have met with Africa. He pointed out that not a word would," and no seeking refuge in halfway general approval, but now they do not had been uttefed on the part of the Free houses. Mr. Balfour's Mission, like that uppear to satisfy the bulk of the nation. State delegates to the National Conven- of our French Allios, did not cross the The Russian Revolution has opened the tion regarding a constitution on Repub Atlantic merely one sentimental journey. oyes of many to the fact that, in the pre-lican lines. The great majority in South They went to do business with people who sent circumstances and in consideration Africa did not want farther civil war. meant to do business with them. There is of what the persant class has done for He asked whether the minority was going abundant evidence for him who runs to read centuries, more is due to them?

to force civil war on the majority, and that we and our great kindred nation Lave

You may perhaps think I ain drifting reiterated that the only inture of Sonth arrived not only at a unity of aim, but somewhat away from the subject of the Africa lay in the union of the rapes. a wordination of methods, it there will great struggle in which we are all en In the

past there has never been Socialist Party in Roumanis, por even a

Mr. Hertzog contended thas nothing be no waste of energy and ru unnecessary gaged. But, believe me, the considera- tendency to create one.

Some of the contained in the Constitution or the duplication of effort, and that we shall tions I have been bringing to your notice Russian soldiers in this country, hot treaty of Vereeniging was opposed to his se concerted application of our im have, in fact, reference, and an immense ever, thought that it did not accord with and asked why Republicanism should not common purpose. Let me say one word sent struggle. As our alliance and co conducting a pre-Republican propaganda, mensurable resources for a combined and importance, in connection with the pre- their ideal to aght for a country, where he discussed in South Africa as freely more

If there was anywhere in the operation with the United States are democracy was so far in the backgrounas in England He attrmed that Sont Allied or neutral world anyone in say based upon these great moral considera- and started an agitaion which at first Africa had yet to receive its froedon quarter who had a lurking doubt as totions, and not upon any desire of this appeared likely to have far-reaching con. Although he did not expect it in his the single-mindedness and sincerity of country or of the United States to use moquences. In fact not only the Bussian lifetime, nevertheless South Africans were that purpose it could pot and ought not the war as an instrument of expansion, Socialists, but hundreds of German agents much freer than Mr. Merriman thought to survive the whole hearted co-operation so we may be quite certain, as the Unites who still awarm in this country, thought and it was the people's right to know of the United States of America No one States have gone in with us for these that the moment had come when serious how free they were. Mr. Hertzog added on suspect America of being animated by great ends, they will never leave us till troubles might be provoked On the 1st that he was theoretically a Republican, what are called Imperialistic sims, by these great ends are

accomplished. of May, partly at their instigation, tho but he did not advocato a Republic to any lust of territory, or by dreams of dynastic (Cheers) There is nothing of which I Russian soldiers liberated a Socialist, because he fully realized that they could or racial aggrandisement, Hec adhesion am more certain than this the United Dr. Rakowsky, who was under police

is the best tribute we could have, for it States having put their hand to the surveillance, and brought him in triumph only hope to make a Republic a success to the main square of Jassy, where he when all sections unanimously asked is at once spontaneous and disinterested zade an incendiary, speech against the Great Britain for independence. present form of government and against Sir Thomas Smart, referring to the Bulgarian origin. At the out National Convention, said the English break of war his attitude was undecided, minority relied on the good faith of the but soon after the visit of the German Dutch majority. He strongly emphasized Socialist Sudokum, he became wildly pro- that if the present propaganda continued disposed of large sum of the Prime Minitor must feel that he had money for pro-German propaganda. the support of the vast majority in den As the Roumanians are very loyaling with it promptly and rigorously,

sand

GERMAN PROPAGANDA,

to their King, and the commanding Eventually Mr. Merriman's motion was

It is the best tribute we could have to the worthiness of our cause sad to the cleanness of methods by which it has been and is being pursued. In a word, it is the greatest moral, as well as the most powerful material, reinforcement we could have received. It is with these thought

our mind that I ask you to drink to the health of Mr. Balfour. (Cheers:)

ME. BALFOUE'S › RÉFLY.

goneral of the Russian forces here had carried by 72 votes to 21, after Mr. de Mr. Balfour, responding to the toast, his troops well in hand, the revolu- Waal's amendment had been negatived by expressed his thanks for the hearty wel tionary movement did not succeed, and a similar majority. The minority income given to him Rakowsky's dream of glory bas vanished the division was composed solely of rapidly

ANNationalists.

plough, are not going to turn back. They watched the course of events from the in- ception of this terrible war in August, 1014, and, having studied the history which had led up to it, having carefully contemplated the whole play of interna tional forces in recent years, they have come to the conclusion that with the victory of the Allics is bound up the stairs of civilization, as they and as we conceive it. It is a conflict between two ideals, both of which profess to be civilised the German ideal, and what, at all evente in this connection, I may call the Anglo- Saron ideal. They are clear as we are clear, that it is the second ideal which I admit, he said, that I undertook should regulate our policy, and they are the beadship of the Mission to the United not going to abandon any effort, or to re States with the greatest reluctance and fuse any sacrifice, any more than we the greatest diffidence. The reluctance are going to abandon any effort, or refuse factory, have now formed a Roumanian of Bonomic and social progress. They had many causes. There was the occan any sacrifice, which may bring to a happy Labour Party” In many quarters such should also have the right and even the laughter) quite apart from sub fruition & policy on which we are all a party is regarded as necessary for the obligation to rote in order that the marines Measured in the true propor convinced depends, not only homediste political life of the country, and already Government of the country should be tions of terror, in fact I should regard prosperity for us and our children, but it has secured much support throughout under the control of thodo inhabitants the submarine as the least possible evil the whole trend of international and Roamania After consultation with the Tho form by far the grinter majority, that could affect me (Laughter.) But civilized evolution, as far as human eyes Russian Socialista, the new party kay With such a programme the new party Providence was kind from the beginning and human powers of foresight can ven- decided to take notion at the opening hopes to meet with the approval of the to the end of the Mission, and the journey ture to penetrate the future. These are of Parliament by asking for wide reforms whole country, and it is not unlikely that both ways across the Atlantic was per not the fruits of the Missiou, but I think the most important being land for all new laws will soon be passed in such a formed under the happiest auspices both the Mission gave an occasion for the those who work it All peasants, it is form as to satisfy their demands. The of weather and everything else. The dif-emphatic expression of them, and if that declared, should have land in sufficient feeling prevails in the country that the fidence which I felt, however, had a deeper be valuable, and surely it is valuable. quantity to guarantee them the possibility Labour Party is called to play a capital root even then the hatred of the sea. I then we who took part in that Mission part in the life of the future Roumanian felt it was very easy to do harm and may congratulate ourselves on its reguit. (Confinued at foot of next Column:) kingdom.

not very easy to do good. On the whole, (Cheers.)

Somo 20 membora of Parliament, all

known as honest men, who regard the

promises of the Government as unsatisÝ LAMA

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