1917-12-22 — Page 7

OUR LONDON LETTER. WAR TIME LACK OF INTEREST IN POLITICS.

KNOTHER FOOD ECONOMY CAMPAIGN IN THE COUNTRY

[FROM CUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]

LONDON, October, 22nd Parliament is again in session, but nowadays it seems to make no differ- ence to the life of the nation whether

TER HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER, 29ND.

GENERAL SMUTS ON ITALY.

THE ALLIES PLEDGE OF HELP

General Smuts, speaking ar recently, said we were deciding in this struggle very largely the fate of mankind and we had come to a point where a decision had to be made the future would

ure would be

on

Боків

it

be

built to

built on freedom or on power re

and "the will to

the Storce these new fangled notions that we had preached in Central Europe. It seemed to him

the politicians are assembled at West- upon which were that the ideals

minister or not. It is hardly too much to say that for all the public cares they might as well be at the ends of the earth, The fact that the Houses are sitting is not apparent in the social world in London, because there is no social life in

were the very fighting in

the

Empire rested ideals for which we were

am fighting he

It is not the British because I am fighting for th Empire; I have fought against it but I am aghting because for more than

is at stake in this great struggle.

If we do not win, the causa

any

the sense in which we used to regard on will be set back for many

befor the war. Moreover, whatever

of

legislation is proposed is more or less a century, You have laid down a cou directly concerned with the struggle stitutional

ather free communities in against the Huns, either now, or during model for all on which has become the You have built up a com the period of reconstruction that so much the

of nations which embraces a is talked about as soon ae hostilities have censed. For all practical purposes, quarter therefore, Members of Parliament might save a Pof the globe. Against you you hich has been eminently just as well be in their, enstituencies successful along entirely different lines. as occupying the benches in St. Stephen's The will to force has been the keystone Hall. The country is ruled by the War of their policy and the mainstay of their thunder- Cabinet, so that as far as the general whole national system.

are bound to come into collision course of events is concerned Parliamen-clouds were tary government in the pre-war sense at some time or other. We will not see We are simply does not exist, and the weight our principles

thing through (cheera), or influetics of private, members are not going to see the Pardized: of much more consequence than a fly on and we know what the issue will be the wheel of a hundred ton crane.

The

THE AUTUMN DOWNWARD MOVE.

a downward

There are ups and downs. It again There seems to be a fairly widespread autumn, and there is always a idea that members of Parliament have move at this time of the zen. In the special knowlege about what is going in autumn of 1915 Germany made a devia

She had to give in Europe, but this is quite a mistake. tion and crushed In the Smoking Room of the House of some hope to her people the encourage Commons, where you can really obtainment, some inspiration. Like the Bap the feeling and sentiment of members, tist's head, she brought Serbia's to them affairs are discussed and there is plenty on a platter. The process was repeated of gossip, but it is just as informative in the August of 1910, when Roumasin or otherwise ne conversation in any club was crushed, and her head brought on

platter to

of Germany Some people frequented by educated men. One, man

r else had to be

platter has ng much knowledge in relation to the time. Hence you see this tremendous was as his neighbout, because their com onslaught on Italy. Our hearts, our non source of information is the daily sympathies go out to Italy in this her paper, which is equally at the disposal hour of trial. The position is serious of the man in the street Westminster 18, in truth, a rather dull place in these

Thing

put

this

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day, for there, as elsewhere, the war is courage to pref. (Cheers.) Let her? the only thing that matters, and as the Parliamentary machine is of small use for the prosecution of warfare it excites very little intest. A good Indication of the position is to be sten in the meagre amant of space given to Farliamentary debats by the newspapers.

FREEDOM OF THE BEA.

there make no mistake about it—but

not

discourage us for dig- noed know she knows already that her

great Allies are going to stand by her to the bitter end (Loud cheers.) We shall not D platter. We se lier head presented on Our galant sons will help and I shall our best to see Italy through. not be surprised to ice this boomerang thrown back on to the German armies with a force they have never expected. (Cheers.)

shall do

Sir John Macdonell, the Master of the Supreme Court, whe is also a member of the Royal Commission on Shipping Combinations, has performed a useful purpose by calling attention to the per- Bistent mis-use of the phrase, Freedom

first decide the issue in Free and of the Sea, by the Central Powere The

where she knows she is being term is seldom out of the mouths of

Now that she sees the enormous German statesmen; ~~~ By constant itera-

being rushed into

the tion it is possible that even English weight of America

the issue and people may come hear to accepting the struggle she wishes, to dodge Impudent pretesisions of the Germant, of operations. The assault on Italy will some MİNOT theatre that they are indeed striving to establish not help Germany. It will only have the a reign of freedom on the ocean highways, effect, and that the

worst possible effect of prolonging the war. It

triggerROLONGING THE WAR

The war was not decided in Serbia cr in Roumanin, nor will it be decided in 1 Italy. In the principal theatre of war Germany has been going down hill these last three years, If she wants to win the

catch an

As a matter of fact all the talk about for Gerfect the issue. The snai

were

many, and that as Sir John Macdonell spe

no

mot

feelings of Veting

in any

freedom of the sea iz simply a conven- will not tional description of Hun impatience at saic. It may prolong the war Cler

but the extent and diversity of the British many wants to see the

end

of the war, Empire and the commercial, naval, and and the only fruits her army will bring military advantages which are incident from Italy will be so many months added thereto. It has also come to mean a to the duration of the war, claim for paramountcy at sea by Ger-

(continned the spirit. We had wisely says is much as if the Red Crossing against us, nor were we fighting for of the people fight- or white flag were placed over an am- munition dump or a gun emplacement."

or for material- territory

but for It is historically true, in epite of and political bases of Western society,

the great issues of the ethical

moral sertions to the contrary, that England wanted to vindiente these and to hand We has always stood forth as the champion of them down untarnished and the freedon of the seas. The overwhelm. ened to the generations to come.

étrength ing might of England has been used to were being tested as we had never been maintain equality for all nations;

but he repeated, the issue thanks to the British Navy Brecon tad tested before:

was no longer in doubt, Whatever mix

happen in the minor and unb idiary teatres of war, in the main theatro we were holding the enemy in a

in practice existed in time of peace for All except pirates Curiously sough, the United States has only intervened a few

times with armed forces in Europe waters, and on each ocension it was for a similar object--at one period against the Barbary pirates, and now against the German pirates engaged in their inhuman submarine campaign.

FOOD ECONOMY AGAIN.

Preparations are being made for an other great Food Economy Campaign throughout the country, Sir Arthur Yappy organising" secretary of the

·Y.M.C.A., is acting as publicity ngent for the Ministry of Food, his principal task being to bring home to the country the dragers which lie ahead of my unless we hoard our stocks Mr Kennedy Jones, late of the Harmsworth Press, carried out a somewhat similar job earlier in the year, and attempted to stampede the country into a kind of hunger strike As an old newspaper man, known in Fleet street as a champion hustler, ha established the most friendly relations with the Press, and be obtained such a measure of cooperation that his motto Eat Less Broad met the eye in every printed sheet in the land. In the space of a few months less bread was in fact being eaten. Then came reassuring statements from the Government about the submarine menace, and comforting new that we had enough cereals for a nine months' supply, whereupon the con- sumption of bread

old level. and went up again to the

he disgorged that, way map of his, unti every bit of territory he had swallowed in the war was brought forth again. (Cheers) There was on the other side suffering and unendurable, and the

and would hold him there until

which was becoming perfectly

great onslaught on Italy was a proof of had come It showed that Austria could the pass to which Germany and Austria only be saved for another winter by some thing of this kind, but the enemy would fad it was a useless move. (Chters.)

No doubt these dismal prophecies will be falsifed by the crent, but they indicate the troubles of a Food Controller who has to see that producers are kept up to the mark so that supplies are mam- tained, and at the same time ensure that there is no waste on the part of the publis

HIGH PRICES,

The Press is so full of articles and letters about foodstuffa that readers at. a distance might reasonably obtain a false impression with regard to the posi tion. While there is undoubtedly a shortage of certain commodities there is for the time being no scarcity. What worries most people is the high prices which prevail. A sovereign will only purchase, what could be bought for Bs. or 10, before the war. Batter is auy-

thing from 7/8 to 1/5 put lb., tea is

being sold this week for na1 much as

Sir Arthur Yapp finds himself pre per lb., of a quality which could tically obliged to begin missionary work again and in addition to the enormously difficult task of effecting a reduction in the quantity of bread eaten he has other troubles which Mr. Kennedy Jones never had to face. There is now less for people to turn to as substitutes for bread, Bacon butter, eggs, margarine, tea, cheeee, and fish are in short supply, and by all accounts these and other commodi ties will by searcer still as time goes on The farmers predict a meat famine in the spring because the Government have fixed a maximum price for live stock sold to the butcher; and the dairymen are de claring there will be a milk famine be- Cause cattle foods are so dear that to keep milking herds means bankrupter (Continued at foot of next Column,)

|

have been purchased for 1/ or 1/6. in ordinary times, and bacon is often un procurable in the shops, and costs from. 9/8 to 3 per 1b. Naturally the public. protests and grumbles. That is about the only thing in the country not subject to taxation. Of course, the Government can afford to regird high prices with philosophical calm. Merchants and deal. ers receive band werda and abuse (and many of the deserve all they get), and the Government collects up to 80 per cent. of their takings ng excess profits duty. Every retailer, therefore, is by way of acting as tax collector for the State, and the high cost of food is simply a form of indirect taxation for the way, flowing into the national coffers as exce=s profits from trade:-

1917

Our Advertisement Written

by Our Subscribers

Following are extracts from a few of many congratulatory

letters received by Mr. E. J. Dingle, Editor of the

New Atlas and Commercial Gazetteer of China

from Early Subscribers in Shanghai.

OF REAL USE TO ALL

By Mr. Harry H. Fox, H.M. Commercial Attache at Shanghai.

I think the collection in one volume of so many useful and interesting facts and figures concerning the geography, the natural resources, the trade and the industries of 50 vast a country as Chin is a remarkable achievement. Having some experience of the difficulties attending the collection of reliable and accurate data regarding Things Chinace," I can well appreciate the immense amount of labour, energy and patience which you must have expended on your task.

You have certainly succeeded in producing a work which will be of real use to all who are interested in the commercial and industrial development of China.

EXACT AND MOST INFORMING

By Dr. Hopkyn Rees, Director of the Chinese Language School of the British Chamber of Commerce, Shanghal. He Is also General Secretary of the Christian Literature- Society and has been in China

since 18

1883. He Is regarded as an authority on China,

I have been impressed by the enormous amount of time and research work it has meant to you and your associates, and the care with which each of the multifarious items has been checked. The work covers such a wide field, touching almost overy phase of information about China, that it is in no stereotyped sense a vade mecum, brinful of interesting and little known data on such a variety of subjects, and their bearings on foreign trade

The Maps and Graphs are excellent, and well executed, the latter in particular 'being a bird's-eye view of some of the most salient features of foreign intercourse

with China and its manifold results.

I have examined some of the sections with which I am personally acquainted, and regard the same ng exact end most informing.

This work should be in the hands of all our Chambers of Commerce, and of those who are interested in trade with China, for it cannot fail to furnish them with most valuable information and guidance, and save them much loss of time and profit.

AN ADMIRABLE PIECE OF WORK

By Mr. von Heidenstam, Engineer-in-Chief of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, one of the best equipped Public Services In China to-day. He is eminently fitted to express an oplaton on any work pertaining to China.

Being in a position to realize in detail the enormous difficulties of collecting, coordinating and pablishing adequate information for any part of China in fields such as geology, geography and hydrology, I take mush pleasure is saying that I consider Mr. Dingle's book an admirable piece of work, covering as it does the wide fields of geography, general resource, trade and commerce of China:

Created exclusively by private enterprise, which imposes certain limita on resources, the work has considering the inherent difficulties of the task undertaken, attained a remarkable and uurivalled degree of completeness, which will hallmark it as a standard publication.

Nothing is easier than to criticize such a work, But in my opinion its many marits greatly outshine its shortcomings, and the publication can justly claim not only to be the largest book over produced in Chiou, but also the best and most comprehensive work of its kind in this country.

December

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VERY CONSIDERABLE ACHIEVE DENT

By Mr, Earnest Burain, Secretary of The British Chamber of Commerce, Shanghal.

In many respects it is an astonishing work, and I heartily congratulate you on this very considerable achievement

I am glad to be able to inform you thit my Committee have authorized me to purchase a copy for the use of the Chamber, and I am sure that on closer acquaint- anco with its contents the value of the work will be increasingly appreciated.

I hope the volume will have a wide circulation among all who are interested in the commercial development of China.

COMPLETE AND COMPREHENSIVE

By Mr. Julean Arnold, American Commercial Attache

ateling.

I have looked over the advance sheets of your admirable Atla Gazetteer of China and I take pleasure in recommending it to whu are interested in any phases of the commerce.

The publication is the most complete and Omurebenave Mor has yet appeared in this country.

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