1917-02-08 — Page 8

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

EXTRA.

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1917.

TELEGRAMS:

[Renter's Service to The "Telegraph.”]

THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS,

Important Speeches By Mr. Asquith" and Mr. Boner Law,”

London, February 7,

Speaking it the House of Commons, daring the debate on the Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, Mr. Asquith maid everyone was delighted at the arrangement made for meeting the Dominione representatives. The House would like to know the scope and parpoes of the meeting. Was it concerned with concerted efforts of the Empire for the prosecution of the war, og would it consider problems of mettlement and reconstruction?" He was alas naked to make a statement regarding wheat prices here and in "Australia.

Mr. Asquith, referring to Germany's “declaration of war on nentrale,” said it would be unfitting for as to offer advice to America, but, headded, "we shall hail with acclamation, in which is the strain of family pride, the stern and resolate determination of the other great English-speaking Power to frustrate the latest enormity by the enemies of the human race~(Cheere). Our own course is clear," There must be the closest co-ordination in the plane and operations of the Allies, and complets organisation and concentration here in money, men and women. Let there be no jarring voice or party cross-currents and no personal or erctional distraction."—(Cheers).

Mr. Bonar Law esid that Mr. Arquith's speech was the beat testimony of the unity of the country. More and more shipping was coming under the direct control of the Government. A large num ber of new ships were in the course of constraction. He emphasised the fact that this Imperis! War Cabinet was not an ordinary Im perial Conference of representatives of the Dominions. India

continuously would ait

the Be a member of

Cabinet question with which aba W38 207

apecially concerned. That was an immense step forward, but the part played by the Dominions in the war justified it. The Con- ference would dison's all questions of common interest relating to the war. There would be no hard and fast line followed. From our own experience sad that of the Dominion Premiera ha wan certain they would do everything in their power to prevent any interference in the essential,task of the successful, prosecution of the

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Mr. Bonar Law proceeded to refer to the war aitustion. The Navy had done, and was still doing, all that was expected of it. Without the Navy it would be impossible for the Allies to win the war-Cheers). The beat brains of the country were derising new expedients to meet enbras înism. Ea believed the experience of the Similar threat in. 1915 would be repeated. Germany could not defeat this country is this msnoer-(Oboere). The over-ranging of Romania was a moral and political disaster, but not a military amocem for Germany, whose advance had been stopped on the Bareth. The situation in Mesopotamia had been completely retrieved.

Mr. Bonar Law concluded by saying that the conquest of East Afries was approaching completion, while the Anglo-French bad established complete moral ascendancy on the Western front, where it was certain that hotter results than hitherto might be hoped for. (Cheers).

Speeches in the House of Lords,

London, February 8.

In the House of Lords, Lord Stanhope, moving the Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, said a silver lining to one cloud of unpreparedness at the outbreak of the war was to be found in the ready support coming from all parts of the Empire.

Lord Crewe said it was irrefutabls that our superiority in the West, which had become marked in July, 1916, had become enhanged as the mouths prooseded, and we were jastified in anticipating the most mageine operations in the spring.

Lard Ourson was of the opinion that other neutrals would follow America's example—others would if they could,

The motion was agreed to.

GERMANY'S THREAT.

Spirited Brazilian Protests.

London, February 7,

Benter's correspondent at Rio de Janeiro statos lint it is offcially annormoed that Batail's reply to the German announcement of uurestricted anbmarine warfare has been dispatched to Bartim

It prosents that the German blockade violates International law, and, if effective, would lose the entire high mass, which is not permissible. It also protesta, in anticipation, against say injury to Scamlian merobantmen," for which it would hold Germany

THE ITALIAN NAVAL, COMMAND,

London, February 1. Renser's correspondent at Rome mys that the Daka d'Abrunai. been milieved of the Command of the Fleet, ut his own request,

Vim Admiral Thaos Direval, Chief of the Naval Stall,