The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 5 I NEW ARMISTICE CONDITIONS. AERIAL NAVIGATION. RETURN OF THE SCOURGE. THE LABOUR UNREST CONFERENCE. GOVERNMENT'S AIM.

TO BE DEMOLISHED. HELIGOLAND FORTS KIEL CANAL MINERS EXECUTIVE. LVTEBNED SHIPS SURRENDERED AND DESTROYED. MINISTERS AND THEIR POSTS. NO RE-ELECTION BILL.

EFFECTIVE INDEPENDENT CRITICISM. (From our Parliamentary Correspondent.) Westminster. Monday Night. All the voices went one way and nearly all tho votes another, in to-night's debate on the Ke-eloction of Ministers Bill, and as it was the votes that were obtained for the Government and merely the voices that they railed to enlist it might naturally be supposed that they had quite the best of the oargaan. DO in a seiisn tliotr hnd t-ni-.

at-iner AVArv. thing into account, it was not altogether an auspicious start for the first legislative enter prise of the new Parliament. On the other hand, it may prove to have been an auspi cious enough start for the new Parliament itself, since tho net result was to convince Ministers, with regard alike to the tenure of their own posts and to the conditions under wmcn iuture procedure is to be regulated, that thev must rAfikon with tli snmAwhat incalculable factor of a self-thinking and sur- Mn nl Iff "II -til rwauigiy seir-wiuea Doay or supporters. As originallv planned, the He-election Bill was to have gone through all its stages at a single sitting, whereas in the end it got only its second reading to-night (by a majority of 272 Votes to 42), and was then referred to a Committee of the whole House with promises of important amendment in detail. Generally, thereforo, tlie result might be described as a victory indeed, but not so much for the laovernment as for the House of Commone A DoubIeEdged Argument.

Many of the arguments advanced on one side and the other were of a familiar type, and perhaps that which had most influence with members generally was a plea that cut both ways. Why, asked Mr. Bonar Law, should a Minister who had been elected only a few weeks ago now be compelled to leave his work and go tlirough the fatigue and- incur the expense of a fresh contest merely because in the interval he had been asked to exchange one post for another Acknowledging the hardship of such a case, bir Donald Maclean effectively retorted by inviting tne Government to amend their bill by fittine it with a time-limit that would remedy this particular grievance and yet leave intact the principle of the existing law. Let there, lie suggested, be a period of grace after a general election, say of six, nine, or twelve months, during which members might become iViinisters. without being obliged to seek reelection, but after that period let the existing law resume its original purpose of pro- wumg me constituencies witn an opportunity at reasonable intervals of passing judg ment on the actions and appointments of the government or tJie day.

Evidently it was the second of those arguments that made the more favourable impression. At all events it was supported by such various spokesmen as Mr. Bottomley, who I. i it. t- -it- iu.ocu mm icjeKiuii or me uui; air.

XJiiung, who in the course of his speech produced a new Black Book (coloured a neutral brown for this occasion) containing, so he declared, 1.211 definito election promises by the Prime Minister; and Lord Winterton, who in the unexpected character of a Parliamentary patriarch warned the attentive juniors by bis side against allowing this or any other Government to tako advantage of their inexperience in matters which they might afterwards discover had vitally affected their Parliamentary rights. An attempt by Mr. Bonar Law to meet the last point bv representing the existing law as a check rather on the House of Commons than on the Government seemed to strike members as more ingenious than sound, even tho newest recruit, as tho discussion proved, appearing to be fully alive to the manner in which both Ministers and members always fail to react to such checks. Free Voting in Committee. Incidentally it- came out (though the secret really ceased to he one about 15 years age) that in 1904 or 1905 Mr.

Bonar Law missed promotion to the Balfour Cabinet of that time owing to the knowledge that his seat would be lost if ho had to seek re-election, just as at a later period Mr. Churchill lost Xorth-west Manchester, while other Liberal Ministers failed to. obtain re-election in other con stituencies. Again those illustrations cut both ways, and. looking before and after, members of different parties clearly found it difficult to accept the conclusion that Mr.

Law's precedents and instances necessarily represented an undesirable process. Even with reference to the present situation Mr. Adamson sturdily op posed the general assumption tnat tnere should bo an all-round relieving bill, insisting, on the contrary, on the peculiar importance at this moment of all others of obtaining the judgment of Sir Robert Home's constituents on the government inaustriai policy. Following on further criticisms not ctm- spicuously friendly in tone, of which one of tho most ritective and wittv came trora Maior Llovd Grtcnw? a Unionist new-comer, whoso slv description of the House of Lords -1 -i i i i as "the penultimate aesrananion oi pluto cracy" opened up a pleasing vista of uncer- taintv as to plutocracy's final bourne, the Attorney General sought to stem the rising tide bv promising tavourable consideration in Committee to Sir Donald Maclean's proposal of a time-limit, Air Donald, by the way. being described from the Treasury bench for the first time as leader or tne upposition." Pressure, however, continued to be exercised on Ministers by successive speakers till at last Mr.

Bonar Law yielded to what was plainly a general desire by promising not only favourable consideration to the proposal, but a free vote on its merits in other words a division, if any division should be challenged, free from the influence of the Government Whips. A HOUSING QUESTION. EVICTION OR PURCHASE. On the motion for the adjournment of tlie House of Commons last night (reported on page 6, Sir A. Yeo called attention to the fear of eviction unless they could buy their houses under winch many tenants were now suffering.

Dr. Addison replied. TO DAY'S DEBATE IN THE LORDS. The debate to be initiated to-day in the House of Lords by Lord Buckmaster, who has given notice to call attention to the present industrial and economic conditions, 'seems likely to rove of considerable importance. The Lord Chancellor, who is to reply for the Government, will speak to-day.

but it is not improbable that the debate will extend to to-morrow. RIOTS IN UPPER HUNGARY. CZECH TROOPS USE BAYONETS. Amsterdam, Saturdai A Budapest teiegrain of yesterday's date 8aZ.6; encounters nave occurrea uewween Einxers and Ceech troops at Pressburg. Troops used their bayonets and machine-guns, and many persons are reponeu to iave oeen xiuea or wounded.

The strike of workpeople in Press-; Ciave been killed or burg and throughout Upper Hungary continues, i All shops, cafes, and hotels are closed. Keuter. NEW BILL PASSED THROUGH AN INTER-ALLIED AGREEMENT. The Aerial Navigation Bill, a temporary measure, yesterday passed through Committee in the House of Commons. Later a new bill will be presented carrying out an agreement now beins: arranged between the Allies.

Major General J. E. B. SEEL.Y TJnder Secre tary lor in moving the second reading of uie Aerial Navigation Bill, said without legislation of this kind it would be impossible to permit civilian flying at all. The bill provided that the Secretary of State should have power to make certain regulations the object of which would be purely to secure the reasonable safety ot the public.

The Government had no desire ,0 any restrictions on civilian living which would prevent people from evolving new types or doing anything that would advance flying. The bill would operate until JanuaTy 1 next. Meanwhile it would be necessary during the session to introduce a larger bill to regulate flying in accordance with a convention that wouiu snortiy be agreed to by the Allied Powers. We had already arrived at considerable agree nient with Franee, the United States, and othet Allied nations, nnrl ho trustor! Ya offan. bo given to this agreement so far as it applied in umj iaitfr uiu mat lie wouia introduce.

Mr. JOYXSOX-HICKS (C.U. Twickenham) was afraid that the bill would put too much power in the hando of thn Spcretum nt stcrfa onH tend very much to restrict the freedom of the i AS wouu probably be the foundation of the future legislation it would he necessarv to scrutinise the hill very closely. Bureaucracy and Enterprise. Lieutenant O.

MOSLEY (O.U. Harrow), who claimed indulgence not only on account of this being his maiden speeoh but on the ground that his age was the lowest of any member of the House, expressed great distrust of proposals which would bring the new and rapidly develop-iaS method of locomotion under the control of a clerk at Whitehall. Bureaucracy was never tavourable to enterprise. Stringent penalties cases of proved negligence would best protect the public. air.

T. C. M. BRAR azov errTT required assurances on two points that private nrms would be allowed to design their own machines without would not unduly hamper the industry on the ground of safety to the public. Mr.

E. B. mrvNTTc in rr the biU inspired one with a great deal of doubt lv niicmct Jt, migm not oe used to crush tde ni.Liai use oi au-eratt auosether Captain WEDGWOOD BENN (L Leith) asked 2 "Bard to pioneer routes and certification, and required an assurance that at the end of the period over which the 7- u1, operative it should not be included in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. General bEELY commended the bill to the House us one giving facilities to private indi-vmuais to fly, and gave an assurance that the sjiouia not oe included in tie Expiring uailuc aa i uk uigger Dili wnich they intended to present to Parliament- would make the present one obsolete. Private firms would be Quite free to Wr.

The bill was read a seonnri i'm. An. Committee on the bill an amendment was ijiweu io suDstituto "air navigation" for (tne latter an expression which fre.quently occurs in th Wliv General 5E.LY admitted that aerial was a horrible word and difficult to pronounco. but after all. he said, "air" was no; an adjective hub xaai nouns were some times used as adjectives for examnlo th.

phrase sea bathing." He would consider the tuiiasiiijr oi me 0,11 oetore the Report stage Jhe amendment was withdrawn, and the bill passed through Committee with some amendments. WOMEN AND THE PEACE CONFERENCE. A GOOD IiKCKPTION IN PARIS. (From a Woman Correspondent.) London, Monday. The British delegates to the Inter-AUicd Women's Suffrage Congress, which met in Paris last week, are very well pleased with the result of their interviews with the leading men at the Peace Conference.

The object of the Congress, which was called by the French Union for Women's Suffrage and which met at the Paris Lyceum Club, was to ask that women should in way be represented, and that their point of view should be considered by the Peace Conference when dealing with matters affecting women. Delegates were present from the national suffrage societies of France, England-including a of the Overseas Armenia, Belgium, and Italy. Delegations from the Congress interviewed statesmen of all nations asking that an advisory committee of women should be formed in connection with the Peace Conference. They were told that there would probably be a committee to deal with subjects connected with women and children, and it was suggested that it would be very suitable for a women's committee composed of delegates nominated by the women of th different nations to work "in conjunction with Oil th President Wilson received the delegation at the Hotel Murat. He impressed them by his cordial and very genuine sympathy with the wishes expressed by Mrs.

Fiiwc ti. who was tiiuaiiy the spokeswoman, and his reply the other delegates had an oppor.uiuty of discussing the matter with him. Ha said there should tx? no difficulty about brinzinc the question before the Pp.ii. rv.nfor enc---. but he did not think the opportunity woul 1 occur before he left for America.

Greek Premier's Sympathy. The gorgeousness of the Greek guardsman, in black and white and scarlet uniform with hue pompoms on his shoes and a silver scimitar across his chest who guards the Greek Premier's room almost daunted the delegation when they called on M. Venizelos the following evening, but they found the great statesman as cordial and sympathetic as Mr. Wilson had hen, and they were tremendously impressed by his powerful personality and keen interest in their scneme, to wnion ne promised his support Incidentally, he told them that when the women of Greece wanted the vote they could have it, but they still needed some political education before they were ready for it. rresiaeus ruiuu, uu received a aeputatiou at the Elysee, told theni he thought their pro posal lor a cuiuuussiuu a very reasonaoie one, and he also said he thought the women or France and Italy would aoon be enfranchised that the Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon races had shown the way.

The Congress was disappointed because Mr. Lloyd George was away from Paris, but they had" very satisfactory interviews with Lord Robert CeciL Mr. Barnes, Sir Robert Borden. Senator White, and Mr. Massey, all of whom approved of President Wilson's proposal to establish special commission of the Peace Conference to report on international questions especially affecting women.

Mrs. lawcett and Mrs. Oliver Strachey remained in Paris to attend a larger, less formal conference of Allied suffragists, which was to discuss in more detail questions concerning especially women of the invaded countries. I understand that while the proposed advisory committee would be connected with the Peace Conference, it is desired that a similar permanent committee of women should be associated with the League of Nations. REPATRIATION OF GERMAN WOMEN.

BRITISH BORN WIVES MAY REMAIN. The Home Secretary announces that German women are being repatriated to Germany in. cases where the Advisory Committee has advised that course. Exceptions are made favour of the aped. invalids, and children.

No distinction is made between persons of high social position. The rule is that British-born wives and children of Germans are not cent out of this country ag.iinst their will. i INFLUENZA SPREADING. Influenza is steadily spreading in Manchester and Salford, and cases are reported from most of the districts. At the moment the southern residential quarters and Kersal in the north are more affected than Ancoats or Greengate, poorer and more crowded neighbourhoods, but the autumn visitation showed that the disease made no distinction beween rih and poor in its attacks.

The first stages of the present epidemic were noticeable four weeks ago, and every week has seen an increase in the number of cases. This has been accompanied by an increase in the reported cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. Ao doubt the severe and changeable weather has been an important contributory cause in these cases. The deaths last week from influenza in Manchester numbered 44, as compared with 28 hi the preceding week and 11 and in tho two last weeks of January. There were 42 deaths from pneumonia last week, 37 in the preceding week, and 33 and 14 in the final weeks of January.

Bronchitis was responsible for 58 deaths last week, as compared with 42, 36, and 26 in the three preceding So far the elementary schools have not been appreciably affected by influenza. Dr. Ritchie, Jhe schools medical officer for Manchester, said yesterday that he had received a report from only one school showing that a number of cases had been notified. There were 25 deaths from influenza in Birmingham last week, compared with nine during tlie previous week. The schools in Northwich are to be.

closed. In one family the father, a son, and daughter died on successive days. SHOOTING IN BERLIN. 00 SP ART AGISTS ARRESTED. Copexhaoen, Monday.

A telegram from Berlin At about nine o'clock on Saturday evening a meeting of leaders of the Eed Soldiers' Union in the Weberstrasse was dispersed by police ana uovernment troops, xne crowa attacked the soldiers, who then made use of their fire arms, une demonstrator was mortally wounded ana otners were sugntiy injured. neuter. Berne. SftxnAY (Received Yesterdavt. One hundred Spaitacists who had met in Berlin to arrange the details of tho demonstration were arrested.

According to the "Rote Fahne," the Spartacists are considering the summoning of a general etrike in opposition to the bill for compulsory work winch 'is to De put Deiore tne National Assembly. -Keuter, Copenhagen. Monday. A Berlin teleeram savs th mnminsr natters. referring to the dangers which threatened Berlin on Saturday evening but were obviated by ma at-uiuii oi me crunuiai police in iuaKiug arrests on a large scale, assert that the plan for revolt originated among troops belonging io me itea boidiers Leamo to wtnrh nmurt labour companies were attached.

The Plan was to OCCUOV tha entire p.entr ni the city, seize buildings in the newspaper quar ter, nicoiaing i.ne central leiegrapn umce, and entire blocks of buildings in order to fire from roofs on Government troops. Reuter. BELGIANS EVICT SPARTACISTS. Copenhagen, Sunday. A Duisburg telegram says: In view of the occurrences of Wednesday, Belgian troops marched here on Monday night.

Troops arrived before the Town Hall just as three Spartacist leaders from Hamborn had reached the town with tha obieot nf pelling the chief Burgomaster to surrender a mi ti 1 iiiuj jmco. xue jeigian3 neiu up tne motor car of the Spartacists. who tried tn huxlinsr a hand erenade at the Belgians, which however, did no damage. Three Spartacists were severely wounded. Belgian troops have occupied the Town Hall in order to protect the auinoruies.

Association war Special. THE FOREIGN MINISTER. Weimar message published by the "Vossische Zeitunsr." that Count von Brockdorff Rnnfmn nas resigned me lor oreign Attain. Reuter (Basle). AMERICAN' DEATH-RATE IN BATTLE.

(U.S. Government Wireless.) Washington, Monday. General March announced to-dav that in tha present war the battle death-rate in the American army was 57 men per thousand, the disease rate 17. In the Civil War the Union lost 33 men per thousand in battle and 65 from disease. MEXICAN LAND.

FOREIGN GRANTS REPUDIATED. Washington, Monday. Official information has been received that the Mexican Minister of Agriculture has ordered a revision oi me concessions made oy former Mexican Governments to foreign corporations and individuals, particularly in the States of KjintxthOf jjunci uiu vumianaroo where, the Minister states, large areas granted to different foreigners and foreign mmmnioii i i been held for a long time to the detriment of national interests. It is understood that the order is directed largely against concessions to British and American firms and nationals. According to information received, some concessions have already been cancelled, and the land has been given to the people fox agricultural purposes.

iteuter. OPORTO WELCOMES REPUBLICANS. Madrid, Monday. Aews lias reacnea nere irom Vigo that Republican troops have occupied Oporto, where all Ministers who arrived from LiHbon received an enthusiastic welcome. Renter.

Royalist Leader's Fate. Sdnday. The news of the Royalist leader, Senhor Paiva uoueeiro, navmg oeen wounoed in the fighting in the North of Portugal, which was afterwards denied, is now officially confirm He is at present in the military prison a Oporto. The Republicans have not taken any 1 'I I 1 .1 It A- reprisals, out uttim kuuiv parties over to the ordinary courts to be dealt with by them. Wireless Press.

Lisbon, Sunday. The Republic is now being re-established without incident in all districts where the Royalist flag had been flown. Renter. SALE OF SWEETMEATS- RESTRICTIVE ORDERS TO BE WITHDRAWN. The Food Controller bas revoked as from 1st March, 1MB, tie Bale of 8weetmeats (Restriction) Order, 1918, the Sale of Sweetmeats (Restriction) Order.

1918. and the Sale of Sweet meats in Theatres (Restriction) Order, 1918. When these oraers were uiuuuuoea tne manufacturers of sweetmeats were permitted to use no more than 25 per cent of th Quan tity of sugar used by them in 1915, and the object of iiweetineate then available for rtii sale should be sold exclusively by the smaller traders ana uy aeIen- M.h sales for their livelihood, Food Controller no longer thinks it necessary to exclude other traders from the business. The sugar ration for manufacturers is now 100 per cent oi vneii -rrr The importation of liquid glucose, an import y-av material for sweetmeat-makinv has for some time past been scarce, is now free from restriction, and at same time the return VdmffiS the output to be restored to a normal laveL Commission on the Sugar Supply by which the sutrihntinn of tMir output DT rnannfitir will be eontrouea. suui i.wij as to guard against the small trader being again exposed to h- controlled in such a wav astT', those hardships from which the order has pro- tected him.

I I MINISTERS TO MEET The national conference on industrial unrest to which the Government are calling representatives of employers and employed will take place at the Central Hall, West minster, on Thursday of next week. Joint industrial councils and industrial reconstruction committees are particularly chosen in the invitations. The official announcement last night and the terms of the invitation sent out sugge-t that the Government aims less at discussion between employers and employed than at eliciting for the Government itscif information ana suggestions of remedies. The Miners' Executive have been invited to meet the Government on Thursday. Air.

Bonar Law stated in the House of Commons yesterday that the promised committee of investigation on the miners' demands was now being formed, would represent employers, employed, and the interests of the public, and would be asked to report on wages and hours by March 21. Tlie miners' strike ballot is proceeding this week. The following dates may bo set out: To-day. Transport Workers' Conference considers Government arbitration proposal. Thursday.

Ministers meet Miners' Executive. Saturday. Miners' ballot returns to be at headquarters. February 27. National Conference on Unrest.

March 15. Miners' strike (if decided on) to take effect. March 21. Mines Investigation Committee to Teport to Government on hours and wages by this date. Tlie miners', railwaymen's, and transport workers' leaders forming the Consultative Committee of the Triple Alliance met last night, and are stated to have agreed in opposing precipitate action.

To-day the Belfast strike will be tested by the reopening of the "outside" engineering works. NATIONAL CONFERENCE. THE RANGE OF INVITATIONS. (Prom the Ministry of Labour.) Monday Night. The Government have had under the industrial unrest which has recently manifested itscif in various districts, and they have decided to call a national industrial conference at which members of the Government can have an opportunity of meeting representatives of the industries of the country, so that the general situation may be discussed and tho views of the representatives of employers and workpeople ascertained.

The conference is to be held at the Central Hall, Westminster, on Thursday, February 27, at 10 30 a.m. The arrangements for iVia Oo in 4l.n 1. a si tka 'VTiniirt r-17 of Labour, Montagu Hpuse. Admission will be by ticket only Invitations are being issued to all joint industrial councils and interim industrial reconstruction commmittees asking them to arrange for the attendance of the chairman and vice chairman of the council or committee together with two other members. The intention iB that as far as possible the industries of the country should be represented through their industrial councils or reconstruction committees, but in industries where such councils or committees do not exist invitations arc beiniz addressed direct to the organisations most fully representing the employers and workpeople respectively.

It is desired that the conference should be as fnllv representative as possible, but owing to the limits of accommodation it is necessary -for invitations to bo restricted generally to organisations which represent most widely tne interests or tne maustnai community. THE PREMIER TO SPEAK The Press Association learns that it is pro bable Sir Robert Home, Minister of Labour, will preside over the conference at the Central Hall, Westminster, on February 27. It is hoped that the conference may be addressed by the Prime Minister. POINTS LABOUR WILL LOOK FOR. (From a Labour Correspondent.) There is no exact precedent for the National Conference of employers and trade unionists which the Government has decided to summon, it will be a difficult matter to secure the right representation.

The nearest thing to a precedent is the so-called Treasury Conference" of March, 1915, at which Mr. Lloyd George as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Bunciman as President of the Board of Trade met the representatives of the principal trade unions connected with ont-put of war materials. A similar conference between the Government and the representatives of the employers, was aleo announced in 1915, and it is believed that this took place, although no report of the proceedings has ever been published. At the Treasury Conference there were present the executives and officials or representatives sent by the executives of the principal unions connected, with engineering and shipbuilding, the wool and boot and shoe and clothing industries, and other trades connected with War Office contracts.

The rail-wavmen also attended, though they were not mJrtiem to tho final agreement, while the miners set an ominous precedent by attend ing on the first day and then withdrawing their representatives. The transport workers, th cmneral labour unions, and the National Federation of Women Workers were also present, while the committers of thei Trade Unions congress and the General Federation ot im unions iieid a watching brief on behalf of Labour as a whole. The Conference thus included direct representative only from those indus-triwt which were considered to be. essential to the successful prosecution of the war. It was further- entirely to official, delegates from trade union executive committees, and" this meant that it consisted almost entirely of full-time trade union officials.

Three Difficulties. The conference now proposed is to be ap parently a very, much bigger thing. It to include all trades, thus bringing in such trades as cotton, building, and printing, which were fa Itijalao to be joint conference with the employers, but be afforded for separate as well a3 joint meet- xil- a OI St. There f16 ierrer difficulties in (the way of the success ol experiment i. -a.

if r- which the Government has deciced to make, as at of of I an THROWN OPEN. "pjjg GERMAN STANDPOINT WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE. Pahis, Moxdat. Tlie Supreme War Council met tnJM tho Quai d'Orsay from 3 p.m. to p.m.

marshal och mtornied the Ministers of th Allied and Associated Powers of the acceptance by the Germans of the conditions for the renewal of the Armistice. The next meeting will take place to-morrow at 3 p.m., when the Serbian delegation will be heard. Copenhagen, Mono at. a telegram of yesterday date from Weimar states that tho German Government instructed Herr Erzberger to sign the Armistice, but before doing so to hand Marshal Foch a written statement declaring that the German Government is aware of the serious consequences of either signing or rejecting the agreement. in instructing its delegates to sign it has done so in the conviction that the Allied and Associated Governments are seriously endeavouring to restore peace to the worm.

The "German Government," the message is obliged to define its standpoint towards the three articles. First, the agreement entirely ignores the German Government, which has arisen in an orderly manner from the people's will. It imposes. in the form of curt orders and prohibitions, tne uutv or evacuation in favour or insurgent Poles of a number of important places, in- EAST rf PRUSSIA PRUSSIA SthutaS WARSAW VP OLA BOHEMIA Ll eluding Birnbaum and Bentschen. Although we are ready to cease all military aggressive action rosen ana otner regions we must expect Poles to respect the demarcation line otherwise, wo must be authorised to defend ourselves bv force.

Germany proposes to carry out the Armistice in all points in which she ha hitherto not succeeded, but ventures to assume that her obligations will not be interrupted in a manner incompatible with President Wilson's principles. We must wait to see whether we' are in a position fully to follow the contemplated instructions of the Allied Supreme Command. "Thirdly, objection is raised to. the point in the agreement giving only three days' notice in case of denunciation." Press Association War Special. Treves, Sunday.

The agreement prolonging the Armistice was signed at 30 p.m. in Marshal Foch's saloon carriage. Reuter. F.RZBERGER'S COUNTERPROPOSALS. According to Reuier's Paris correspondent, when the new nrmistice condition? were transmitted on Friday to Berlin and Weimar, Herr Erzberger asked for a period of delay, and submitted two documents to Marshal Foch.

The first concerned the employment of the German merchant fleet for the supply of food to the world, and tho second reserved Germany's decision as to acceptance or refusal, and made proposals regarding the liberation of Herman prisoners of war. the territories occn-pied by the freedom of communication westward anil eastward, coastal navigation. Marshal Foch is reported to have replied on Saturday that no modification was possible as tlie text of tlie conditions had been drawn up by the Allied and associated Governments. A CHECK ON ERZBERGER? Berne, Monday. Th- campaign Erzberger appears to have had some effect A telegram from Berlin states that Herr Erzberje'er bas received formal instructions from Berlin not to make any definite decision on behalf of Germany without authority of the Government.

Renter. FTVERT TO YISIT FOREIGN CAPITALS. ASSEMBLY ADJOURNMENT. Copenhagen-, Monday. The German National Assembly will at the end of the week, after whirh the Bill will be debated and a siiecial committee appointed to deal with th bill.

Thereafter the present session will be rdjourned to March 20. On Monday next JCbert is giving a banquet at Weimar Castle. He will then leave for Berlin to take up temporary quarters at lieilevue Castle to make arrangements for visiting the capitals of the Federated States and foreign capitals. Exchange. GERMANY AND KL'SSIA.

Copenhagen, Soxdat. In the course of his speech before the German National Assembly at Weimar on Friday Count Brockdorff-Rantzau said: The tKussian Soviet Government has de-claie i to the Entente that it would enter into negotiations on the basis of ceasing Beflshevik ropes and among other peoples and beimr allowed to settle political conditions in Russia nithnut foreign interference. I see no objection to seeking an understanding with Uncci, thia tasis. Only one condition should be madethat Russia should accept the point of President Wilson's programme which deals with the right of tne self-determination of Beutet. THE SURRENDER OF MERCANTILE MARINE.

A telegram sent to Herr by the! Provisional Government of Brcinca protests! against lae uerman mercantile fleet being handed over to the Entente, and exhorts the Government to resist ihe new demands of the Entente and to oppose any sugeestions that German ships should sail with" other than German crews. Reuter. ran 'i-ayip '-v visa In the first place, it has been initiated far to late, when nearly all the trade unions have already drafted and finally agreed upon their national programmes. Secondly, a purely official conference, while it may adequately represent the real mind of the miners and even of the railwaymen, will certainly not ba equally representative in thoso industries (such as engineering) in which trade unionism is less well and systematically organised. At the same timo it seems difficult to expect the Government to invite purely unofficial elements.

We can therefore only hope that the trade unions themselves, instead of drawing their delegates entirely from official sources, will see that rank-and-file representatives are included. Thirdly, it will be very difficult indeed io get such large bodies as the miners or the railwaymen to agree to be bound by the decisions of a huge composite conference, especially if any attempt is. made to repeat the rush tatftics which have so often been fatal before. Again and again at important national conferences, instead of giving ample opportunity for discussion and reflection, the Government has rushed through a decision which has subsequently proved abortive because it was not really based upon consent. A Government Programme Needed.

It is still entirely unknown what proposal the Government will place before the confer ence when it meets. Here, again, it is be hoped that there will be no repetition of previous mistakee, and that the Government proposals will be issued in advance in order that delegates may have a chance of considering them before the full meeting. Clearly, if the conference is to be of any real use, the Government must table satisfactory proposals covering at least the following points: 1. Some general settlement of the question of hours of labour, such as the promise of a general Eight Hours Act. 2.

Some general provision against and f0r absorption of surplus 3. A promise to continue the Wages Regulation) Act, which expires in Mav, until permanent machinery for the regulation of wages has been put into full working order. 4. A constructive policy on the question of the nationalisation of mines, and railways and the place of the trade unions in their control. Until it is clearer what exactly the Government intends to propose, labour opinion is somewhat sceptical about the utility of tlie proposed conference.

Everyone, however, hopes that a way out will be found, and labour is fully prepared to give the Government proposal a fair trial on the terms suggested above. THE GOVERNMENT REQUESTS SUGGESTIONS. Our Birmingham correspondent telegraphs A meeting of the Federation of British Industries was held in London last Wednesday, at which it was suggested that the Government' should convene a meeting of employers and workmen connected with the big trade organisations with the object of forming, if possible, a Lannnr Parliament, (tw H.olinn A- Of mUtUal interest. Tha in vitnfinr. nlilnh Vrt SBSS that tie Government desire to get Irom the representatives information as to the cause of the present unrestand any remedies or suggestions tney may have offer.

A SINGLE DAY INADEQUATE. Mr. Appleton, of the General Federation of Trade Unions, said yesterday: -1 cordially welcome tho idea of conferences, but I think that the functions of the body will have to be very clearly defined; otherwise it will tend to diminish the effectiveness and influence of Parliament, and may lead to conflict of opinion. "It has been stated in some quarters that the conference is to take the form of a permanent assembly for the periodical consideration of industrial disputes, but that is not the impression conveyed by the invitation received from the Government. I have had in mind a conference of the one-dav variety, and in framing a rephr to the invitation Thave suggested that one-day conferences do not give opportunities for adequate THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

PRECIPITATE ACTION DEPRECATED. An emergency meeting oi the Consultative. Committee of the industrial organisations forming the Triple Alliance was held in London last night. Mr. B.

Smillie and Mr. Frank Hedge's (Miners), Mr. C. T. Cramp and Mr.

J. H. Thomas (Railwaymen), and Mr. H. Gosling and Mr.

B. Williams (National Transport Workers' Federa tion) were present. Mr. Smillie presided. The delegates had a full and frank discussion on each other's national programmes and the progress which had been made towards securing their acceptance.

It was expected that a conference of the three Executives would be stun. (moned at an early date. In view of the big conference with the Government on February 27 (says the Central News) the meeting considered that ''nothing should be done precipitately that would bring the trad union movement into disrepute." THE MINERS' BALLOT. UOVERNMENT INVITATION TO EXECUTIVE, Our Labour correspondent understands that the Government has invited the Executive of the Miners' Federation to meet them on Thursday to discuss the industrial situation craated by the miners' strike ballot It is unlikely that any definite decision will be reached this" week, the miners' exeootiye wfll not be in a position to accept any offer other than "tHe concession ofthe claims made in the nstlojrial programme, and it fs unlikely that will bo prepared to "make lsa offefon these terms. Therefore the meeting on Than-day may he regarded rather as a preliminary d'utccssion of the position than as.

a meeting which a settlement is probable. WELSH LEADER ADVISES AGAINST A STRDaE. Mr. Thomas Bichards, M.P., general secretary the South Wales Federation, in the course of an interview with a correspondent the "Manchester Guardian." nnoit minerVballet, said most emphatically that the miners should vote against strike. decision of the Spnthport conference, In tnhmft uns xocn grave-issues to a ballot wnaoot gmng proper time for their consideration, to be unwarranted, and for this reason (besides others ymishi-sadvansc) I havs no hemtatimi aanslrsyex rnrner to vat i oensvjKn tpe nupic 'advocate who-wfll hot 1 franu are.xsaaliaed.

"I am not frfgfinedjby. the prophecies of economic disaster nramffHe six-hour day. Bni facins the act that between 30 tons ox coai proonc bam It is officially announced that the German Government has signed the new armistice' conditions. The new conditions, it is expected, will bo published towards the end of the present month. Our special correspondent in Paris: states mat the naval clauses mciuue tne demolition of the Heligoland and Kiel forts and the surrender of the interned ships, which it is thought will be destroyed.

Tne German Government, in accepting the i onditioiis, sent to Marshal Foch. a written statement which is a restrained remonstrance against the terms. The agreement," they say, "imposes in the term oi curt orders and prohibitions the duty of evacuation in favour of insurgent Poles of a number of important places." And they add: We must wait to Bee whether ve are in position fully to follow the contemplated instructions of the AU'eu supreme Command." With regard to the policy of the associated Governments towards Russia, our special correspondent states that it is probable another invitation will be sent on the lines of the Prinkipo proposal, but with a strict time-limit The Jugo-Slavs have appealed to President Wilson to arbitrate on their differences with Italy, and Signor Orlando has returned to Home to put the matter before his Cabinet ALLIED NAVAL TERMS. INTERNED SHIPS TO BE SURRENDERED. (Prom our Special Correspondent.) Paius, Monday, 6 25 p.m.

I understand that the armistice conditions will be made public before the end of the month. Tho paval conditions will include the demolition of tho forts on Heligoland and the Kiel Canal, ships which have been interned will be surrendered, and I am told t'ney will ba destroyed. Germany will "be 'ft with a fleet large enough for defensive j'Urposee. Tb is generally believed that the Council of Ten will reach some decision to-day on Kussian policy. They will probably send another invitation on tho lines of the Prinkipo invitation, attaching this time a strict time limit.

The League of Nations. With regard to the League of Nations, it is important to point out that the first reading of the League of Nations scheme does not commit any delegate to details. Amendments will probably be proposed by some delegates of the smaller Powers. These will bo collected by the secretariat and referred to the Commission. Tho Jugo-Slavs have addressed an appeal to President Wilson to arbitrate on their with Italy, and the President has a sympathetic reply.

The scheme for the League of Nations provides for the Submission of all differences to arbitration, niter Signor Orlando's eloquent 6peech in favonr of the fundamental principles of the League it is difficult to see how Italy can iefut-e this proposal. It is clear that tho question cannot wait until the permanent committee on international justice has been established. It would be an economy of time, which is now very precious, if this question could be taken out of the hands of the Council of Ten and consigned to the President's arbitration. It i understood that Signor Orlando has gone Ttaly so as to put this question before his Cabinet. THE KIEL CANAL.

fllio Kschange Paris correspondent learns 'tint anions tho terms of the naval armistice renewal (Wmanv will bo required to agree that the Kiel Cnnal will in the future opened to free civilian traffic. THE RUSSIAN MILITARY PROBLEM. KXPERT INQUIRY SUGGESTED. Paris, Moxdat. expected that tlie Snpieme Council will Hec.de to-riav what further steps are to be takn connection with the Russian question, and British circles it is thought the take the form' of a further to Prhikipo 'with a short time limit.

which it is possible that a commission of experts will be appointed to examine as to intervention in the event o-- the invitation to Prinkipo having re as is rather feared may be the case. i believed that French and Italians may ake a proposal for such a military oommis-f both e.ng in favour of military interven-: i ut while the British would no, oppose tormation of the commission, and would T-'l iiy take par: in it, I understand there is r. intention of changing the British attitude iuilitary intervention in Russia. British are firmlv opposed to any inter-r r.ee in the internal policy of Russia. At K'Lit we are only committed on a narrow at Archangel and Murmansk, whither -ru ngh: the Germans, not the Bol- in the course of the fighting there various Russians took our side, and we couia leave them without defence, but it is under-s.

ti.at v.e have no intention of sending an to fight the Press Asso- War Special. FRANCE FOR FIGHTINCi BOLSHEVISM. I'ahis. Monday. 1 1 the debated question of armed Russia, so far as can British from the v.v.

raio tw. wh.ch seems to be that Bolshevm both pra. and as theory, should be fought and a menace to the future peace of world, and as hindering and perhaps ren-uenng uupossible the conclusion of a satis-fn-t-jrj- pace by conference. On these grinds France sees no. reason whv there could r.fii be armed intervention if such a-tion Association SpeeiaL ou.