1918-10-16 — Page 7

OUR LONDON LETTER.

IROM OUR OWN CORRISPONDENT.]

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

LORD LANSDOWNE

THE

AND

PEACE DISCUSSIONS. The following letter from the Marquis of Lansdowne was read at a conference

ONE THOUSAND MILLIONS RAISED IN of his lordship's friends and supporters

WAR BONDS.

LONDON, August 19th A very great deal will be said nad written about coal shortage from now until the trees come in lead again. The country, is faced with the prospect of many empty grates next winter, for the coal situation is more menacing than the food supply was a year ago.

The position is explained in part by ibe mrge number of miners who were called to the Colours which means that less cual can be raised At the same time the demand for odal is greater than ever. Not only hate we to supply our own wants, to keep the factories going for munitions and trade, and meet the re quitement of the Royal Navy and the merchant service, but we have also to supply France and Italy. The Govern ment plan to meet the situation is strict ly to ration households, though even then we shall be 27,000,000 tons short. In this matter the United States connot assist because America is shorter than we are.

at Essex Hall recently:-

“We are about to commence the fifth year of the great struggle for liberty, and next week we shall reafirma solemn resolve nat to desist from the effort until, peace with honour is in sight. Mean while, with every month that passes, the toll which the war is claiming becomes enviar and heavier. The civilised world is being drained of its resources, and is spending its energies in purely de atractive efforts, each of which involves a further diminution of ita reserves of power and a farther mutilation of the machinery of production. I have seen estimates which put the casualties sus- tained by the belligerent nations at 30,000,000, of which no fewer than 7,000,000 bave been killed while 8,000,000 are prisoners or missing. I will not dwell bere upon the sacrifices which our own country is making, upon the exhaustion

HONGKONG DAILY PARES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1918.

ment they are no obstacle to pence, nos would the fact that the Allies took a different view three years' agd prevent them from listening to reasonable sugs gestions DOW.

since.

PRESIDENT WILSON'S SİKECH,

ara

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conceive that you have fought up to a stage when', the 'enemy is prepared to concode your principal terms, the terms you consider essential. But if there is no informal, conference how are you to know that he is going to concede them

"The people are entitled jo look to their Government and say: We are bleeding away. We are doing our best for the cause, but we expect you as eur leaders to do your part of the work.' It is the duty of Governments to talk. There is no other way that you can achieve the results you are after. They must talk to find whether a point has been reached at any time where there is con cord and agreement on fundamentals, be cause, as soon as there is that concord, we should not continue to fight a day longer for non-essentials or things that don't matter.

The Prime Minister', memorable speech of January 7th Inst. is, I under stand, regarded as the most authoritative recital of the war aims of the Allies Though lengthy and elaborate, it is at some points, perhaps inevitably, wensing in precision. People are asking whether it still holds the field, whether all the demands comprised in it are in the same plane, whether no conversations' can be commenced until the Central Power have signified their acceptance of, the whole of them. It is noteworthy, that a few days ago, when addressing the Canadian editors, the Prime Minis ter, referring to previous discussions

"Humbler persons have been held up of Way A-LEDS, and the conditions to execration for using language of this under which WO

prepared to | kind. When it is used by a member of make pesce, announced that We shall the War Cabinet, and by one so justly reconsider the whole of these problems in respected throughout the Empire as the light of events which have occurred General Smuts, it cannot be treated as negligible. General muts' speech has But since she January pronounce

given the coupdegrace to the theory of

striking. The most remarkable of these all of us regard as indispensable, avic- ment there have been others not less the knock-out blow, and points the way to a true conception of that victory which is President Wilson's Fourth of July tory aiming not merely at a momentary speech, remarkable both for what it een superiority in the field, but a permanent tains and what it omits. It derives addi-security under which President Wilson's tional importance from the fact that our ideals can eventually he realised, and own Prime Minister, immediately, after the law-abiding communities relieved to do when anything goes wrong. But of our national wealth, upon our losses

its delivery, whole-heartedly adopted it. the position is really due to a combine in tonnage and our inboitely more can have pente to-morrow on the con-

from the menace of German militarism, and announced that the Central Powers The test of its completeness will be found » tion of circumstances, to a number of

adverse factors, which, like the reverses lamentable losses in human lives. A fawditions specified by the President

in the enemy's readiness to throw aide on the Western front last March, could weeks ago the Registrar-General, in a

the doctrines of the extreme militar:TÄ "Owing to the dignity of its language and to accept terms which he would not not have been anticipated. Men bad to striking paper read at the Royal In and the high ideals by which it is inspir have been allowed to luck at when he set out upon his desperate enterprise. The German people has, as Lord Grey truly says, to be convinced that force does not pay, and that the aims and policy of their military rulers inflict intolerable country. Have up, then, reached the and also unnecessary suffering upon their stage when there is a prospect of pre liminary

BLAMING. THE DOVERNMENT.

Some people are busy blaming the Government for the prospective coal Jamine it is, of course, the usual thing

be found for the Army, and miners were enrolled in great numbers because stitute of Public Health, dealt upon they provide men in perfect physical con- the enormous dition. As many as 78,000 were recruit-

+

ed since the collapse of Russia, Thou- tate. He believes wanda sie now being released from ser- vice-not from overseas, but from home defence units. For the rest, nothing "remains but to ration the quantities of coal available for distribution so that ench house gets a certain amount and no more; and to enjoan eztnomy..

Our troubles are, however, slight com- pared with those of the French... One illustration will serve. 1 happen to know on the authority of a prominent public man that in a French village of 3,000 inhabitants which he visited last March they had only one truck of coal per week to keep the population going. Compared with such coal rationing me this the pro posed allowance for next winter in this country seems liberal.

THE NEXT ELECTION...

Political prophets have made up their minds that there will be a General Elec- tion as soon as the new registers can be completed. This would be about the end of November. The party managers, wia in their generation, are leaving nothing to chance, and are quietly getting their machinery into order. Prospective can- didates are beginning to pop up all over the country, a goodly number of them being men who are absolutely unknown bitherto acquainted only with parish pump affairs. A cynic would probably see lame connection between this new. found desire to represent a constituency and the agreeable prospect of receiving a salary of £400 per annum for sitting ia, the House of Commons.

No doubt there will be a considerable re-shuffing of the cards. As the next Alection will be on the clear-cut issue of the vigorous, prosecution of the war, with Mr. Lloyd George as the protagonist of the Entente, the result is not in doubt. A General Election must inevitably deflect some energy from war effort and cause a disturbance in domestic affaire over a period of weeks; but it would have the effect of ridding Westminster of the gang of Pacifists who mis represent their constituents, who have never done any thing to help in the war, and who soarce- Is trouble to hide their pro-German ympathies An appeal to the country would sweep these men out of public life.

Row can it be otherwise 1 Upon na other assumption is it possible to explain the language of those Germans and Austrians who are in position to speak their minds freels, or the constant feelers which are launched by the Governments of the Central Powers.

:

WEAT STANDS IN THE WAYS

WHAT GENERAL AMUTE SAID,

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points, and of proftable conversations

agreement upon essential I am certainly not prepared to affirm positively that we have. Many people are of opinion that there have been occa-

They

ions when sach an agreement might have been reached, when, at any rate, it was worth while trying to reach it. may be right, or they may be wrong. It is of no use to dispute over the past, but there are abundant indications that such: occasions may present themselves in the them, and in a reasonable spirit. Let near future. Let us be prepared to meet

us, at any rate, give our adversaries a chance of showing whether their over- tures are sincere or not. Let us, if we can, clear our minds as to the question of preliminary conditions, as distin ns make believe that we bave defined the former when we have in reality done nothing of the kind

-AKTLITY, TO HOLD OUR OWN.

forward in good faith, and, if one moment is more opportune than another, it is the matnent when" events have shown that, whatever be the feeling which inspires us, it is not one of doubt as to our ability to hold our own in this deadly struggle, if we are forced to continue it.

Earl Beauchamp, who presided, said that

since the first letter written by Lord Lansdowne no fewer than two millions of

ed, no State paper has probably attracted more attention than President Wilson's decline in the birth-speech. It is a picture, drawn by a great master, of the golden age to which we that the

pre are bidden to look forward. It does not, sent War บ costing the bellige however, seem to provide those who are rent countries of Europe not fewer in search of a basis for preliminary than 12,500,000 potential lives. Up to negotiations with the kind of ground the present we had lost in England and work after which they are striving. If Wales in potential lives, on the standard Germany would intimate her readiness of 1913, 850,000. Every day that the war to cor farm to Fresident Wilson's stand, continues means, he says, a loss of 7,000 arda, a long advance would no doubt, potential lives to the United Kingdom, have been made in the right direction. France, Italy, and the Central Empires The speech is, however, not an outline while the war has filled the graves it of peace terms, but a very nobly worded has emptied the cradles U

description of the things for which the "Sooner than accept a dishonourable associated people of the world are fight peace, we are all of us ready to fight on ing. Even if we could suppose that to the bitter end; but there is not a man Germany, in pursuance of the policy laid or woman in this country who does not down by the President, were ready to realise the tragedy of these figures, and combine with other free nations in indeed, there is probably not a Minister getting up a tribunal to secure peace and who has not, at one time or another, said justice, even if we could assume that, as that, it would be criminal io-continue the the result of her adhesion, her power war a day after an honourable peace had of disturbing the peace of the world come within our reach. The desire for would be reduced to virtual impotence peace is, so far as it is possible to judge, even if we had reason to hope that all widespread among the enemy nations.international controversies would, fornished from war aims, and do not let the future, be settled upon the basis of free Leceptance by the peoples immedi- ately concerned, and that all nations must hereafter be governed in their con. duct towards each other by the same principles of bonour and respect for the

"One word more.. We shall be told common law of civilised society that that the moment then the Allied armies governs the individual citizen of all are achieving glorious successes in the feld is not the moment for even hinting modern States, we should still and our- "But we are, apparently, as far aa selves at the beginning and not at the had been thrown out at a moment when at the possibility of peace. If the hint ever from the end. The tide of carnage end of an extremely complicated negotia the fortunes of war were turning against and destruction continues to flow, and tion. We should still be without what carries all before it. From time to time Mr. Balfour (Edinburgh speech, Janu emphatically that that moment, too, was us we should have been told still more aray of reasonableness illuminates the ary 11th, 1919) insisted upon as a pre inopportune, and that we must teet, our gloom, only to be followed by a lapeliminary, viz, reasonable adjustment of reverses with a bolder front. But surely, into recriminations and controversies in the main territorial difficulties by which in the face of the world-wide calamities which each side, instead of searching for the Great Powers are divided, an ad- which this war has brought with it, no paints of agreement, is apparently con justment under which, as he put it, the moment, can be inopportune for the con- tent with dialectic successes. What is it international system would be in a consideration of reasonable proposals put that stands in the way 1 It is with no dition of natural stability to begin with. desire to embarrass his Majesty's Government that I ask the question. But many of us are sorely perplexed and feel

When, therefore, the Prime Minister it our duty to give them a chance of

announces that the Kaiser can have affording us some measure of reassuraner pence to-morrow if he will accept Pre and enlightenment. There is in the first sident Wilson's conditions, be surely place. I am convinced, a deep-seated overstates his case, nor, it seems to me, desire for further explanation as to the does he greatly advance it by intimat conditions upon which we are prepared, ing, for the benefit of those Germans who not to make peace, but to open a dis- are continually warned that we are bent cussion which might lead to peace. It is upon their utter destruction, that the assumed that such a discussion cannot god of brute force must this time and be commenced without some measure of for ever be broken and burnt in his own world's record, and showed the strength preliminary agreement, and our leading furnace. We shall then certainly be of Britain's Gnance and the patriotism statesmen constantly bid us congratulate again challenged both by friends and of the people of this country. But that ourselves because, although our enemies foes to state plainly, not the full terms wonderful record has been beaten by the have refused to define their terms, we are of an ultimate world settlement, but the subscriptions to National War Bonds supposed to have defined ours in unmis terms upon which we are willing to give. with a total of one thousand millions takable language. Has it been really un diplomacy a chance. I do not know Lord Parmoor said what they were all sterling.

mistakable! No one will, of course, whether we shall still be told that no die seeking to do at the present time was to Mr. George Sutton, Director of suggest that discussion ie impossible cussion is possible until the power of make right, rather than force, the decisive Publicity for the National War Barings until each side had obtained the assent of Germany has been once and for all factor in the world. But we should never Committee, who is an experienced journ the other to an exhaustive catalogue of broken by an overwhelming defeat in the get a true and honourable and just deci- list, naacciated with Lord Northcliffe's its requirements, but there are evident field. If that is the obstacle, I recom- sion if, wherever suggestions were made group of papere has been mowed certain cardinal points which neither side ment & careful study of the language for negotiation, they were turned down ander,"

as the Americans say, with will treat as open to question.

Is it really the case that we have done which he delivered at Glasgow on May believed there had been more than one used by General Suluts in the speech and met with the somewhat opprobrious

epithet of a peace offensive." messages of congratulation. It was brilliant idea to raise money by daily all that can be expected of us in the way 17th. Let me quote (from a Glasgow occasion on which suggestions for negotia borrowings instead of by a great loan of the definition of such points. It may newspaper) his words, which were incom. tions had been made with perfect bond- open for subscription for a few weeks be frankly admitted that the diffenlties only.. And it has proved completely of termulating such a list are serious etes reported in several of the London fides, and, of course, if we stopped all

journals Diverse and possibly conflicting, interests successful, "attained," Mr. Sutton says,

We must make We we take of victory we don't mean "by a strong, a human, and persistent have to be reconciled. appeal to the people through the news sure that we are in line, not only with marching to the Rhine, we don't mean papera, That is a tribute to the Press our Allies, but with our great Domin- marching to Berlin, we don't mean going which is thoroughly deserved.

our, both of our enemies and of ourselven. Without ions overseas. We have to face problems, on with this war until we have smashed the patriotic co-operation of the news-political, racial, and geographical of Germany and the German Empire and aro papers the scheme could not have been surpassing intricacy. There is a tempta, able to lictste poace to the enemy in his It was said that there could be no carried through.

tion to use vague language and broad capital. We shall continue the war until guarantee of permanency when we had to deal with such a Power as Germany, generalities, and to slide over awkward the objects for which we set out are actier- but the answer to that was that the touch- It is interesting to note that the 90stions, but what has been the use of ed, and we will continue a defensive tone of sincerity in the desire for peace our inter Ally Conferences, and of the basis to the very end. I don't think that an was whether the countries concerned were pilgrimage of the Tanks to the chief meetings of the Imperial Cabinet, ff out and out victory is possible for any group prepared to place themselves under the cities and towas resulted in £200,000,000 | there has been no co-ordination of our of nations in this way, because it will mean obligations of a League of Nations. being raised. When a Tonk Bank" aimat Pending a revised statement of an interminable campaign. It will mean

Lord Buckmaster said he entirely was opened in Trafalgar Square for a our desiderata we have, at any rate, athas decimated nations will be called upon agreed that we had no course open to us week it was said that the public looked right to ask where we are, to look for an to wage war for many years to come, and the one we took at the opening of upon it as a circus," but they bought account of them as they now stand. what would the result be? The result may the war, but it was impossible to measure War Bonds to the tune of £75,000,000. Some of the earlier versions are obsolete, be that the civilisation we are out to save the unspeakable evil of needless prolonga- Outside London, Glasgow created a and may safely be set aside. For a long and to safeguard may be jeopardised it

tion of the war.. His complaint was that record with £14,000,000, Liverpool time the Allies Note of January 10th, self. But if you are not going to whenever a reasonable suggestion of peace raised

£30,000,000 Manchester 1317, was the governing document. Binteght the war out to a smash-up, then surely was made on the part of Germany it was "exceeded £20,000,000, and Birmingham, then Russia has fallen out of the war, it is necessary sometimes to find out how always rejected in Great Britain on the Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle, and Edin- and, if for no other reason than this, things are going and what your opponent ground that it was insincere. It was said burgh each topped £10,000,000. A great the Nate bas become out of date The is thinking, and what advantage you may that the only way to end the war was deal of money was also subscribed by secret treaties, the disclosure of which so take of the situation as it is looked at by to end Germany, but our experience of smaller places with War Weapons seriously exorcised the public mind in

We will not have a peace Ireland thowed how utterly impossible it Week, the arrangement being that so this country, may also, I assume, be re secured merely by the unaided efforts of was to end even a small nation at our many guns or aeroplanes would be named garded at any rate a liable to revision armies in this war.

The following resolution was

carried ter the town for a certain amount in many, important particulars Anyone (Compare with this Herr von Kuhl-That the heartiest thanks of this con- raised in proportion to population. who has read Mr. Balfour's speech in the mann: An absolute end can hardly be ference be conveyed to the Marquis of But though we have raised a thousand House of Commons on June 20th will be expected through military decision Lansdowne for his memorandum. They millions up to last week the fighting shred by his frank' sanouncement that, alone?') HAMARA

regard his policy as deserving the greatest did not stop last week! So long as the war lasts money will be needed, and Second Thousand accordingly a Millions is now the slogan.-H.B.

£1,000,000,000 IN WAR BONDS.

The War Loon of 1917 established a

HELP OF THE TANKS.

over

him.

JF

en had been killed or maimed, or died the British Empire, and in the same of disease, of whom one-sixth came from period £6,000,000,000 had been added to the debt of the nations, of which one- sixth had been added to our own National Debt. The only satisfactory pence was one reached by negotiation, and ne amount of force or bloodshed, bankruptcy, or ex- haustion could bring it about.

Не

negotiations of the outset what chance whsS there of bringing shows an honourable settlement? We must not approach the question from s punitive point of view, but realise the demands of national hon-

but

doors,

although the treaties were made in We will have to use all our diplomacy | gratitude, and consonant with the highest obedience to motives which would have and the forces at our disposal in order and best traditions of British statesian- moved any Govetuzuent in power at the to bring it to o& victorious end. Now, how ship. They pledge themselves to support time to make the same or similar arrange are you going to bring it there? I can this policy to their utmost.”

OUR

DAY

Thursday, OCTOBER 24th.

ENTERTAINMENT

AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS GATES OPIN AT 7:30 PM.

CHINESE

4

CONJURERS

troop of Chinese Conjurers famous throughout the whole of China, will perform the following programme.

This will prove to be an unrivalled opportunity of seeing tricks performed by the finest conjurers China can produce.

The conjurers will perform 16 novel and amusing tricks including:

Producing National Flag from Empty Box. Card Trick.

Transformation of Balls into Birds. Cut Ribbon being made whole again. The man who appears from Nowhere. Pigeon and Egg trick Walking Handkerchief. Eggs from Heaven. Magic Wine.

Fire from Heaven

aud other wonderful mysteries.

[오오

WHITEAWAY'S

MEN'S DRESSING GOWNS.

PLAIN

CAMEL HAIR GOWNS

IN FAWN ONLY, » SUITABLY PIPED, GIRDLE

TO MATCH:

Price $32.50, each."

GREY WOOLLEN GOWNS.

WITH DIAGONAL "STRIPES

SMARTLY FACED AND PIPED.

Price $30.00 each.

FAWN WOOLLEN GOWNS. WITH FACINGS PIPING AND

GIRDLE TO MATCH

Price $27.50 each.

ALL WOOL SCARVÉS.

FLEECY WOOL SCARVES

WITH E FRINGED ENDS

BROWN, GREY,

AND

BLACK AND RED MIXTURE.

Price $3.25 each.

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW

Tel. 92.

CO, LTD,

DES VEUX ROAD, HONGKONG.

Chinese Name WAYLOO.