The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-24
DENY DISSENSIoN RUMoR.
Prominent Britishers Say the Cabinet Is
United.

London, Dec. 2+.-The most important
Ispeeches at the closing session of thu
House of Commons before the House ad
Ijourned last night for the Christmas re
leess, were made by Lord Robert Cecil
under secretary for foreign affairs, Wal.
ter Runciman, president of the Board OF
Trade, and A. j. Balfour, first lord of the
admiralty.
Lord Robert Cecil's speech was in the
nature of a general defense of the foreign
office. He denied rumors of dissension
in the cabinet, of dissensions among the
allies and of pro-German influence in the
foreign Office. He announced that the
foreign office would soon issue White
Paper stating the principles on which
the British blockade of Germany is based.
| Until the resignation of one or more
members of the cabinet" he said, "every-
one is bound to accept the view that it
| is united on the main lines of it's policy.
As to the unity of the allies, they have
carried on the war in a manner which,
Iif one considers history, is really un-
exampled performance of unity.
Treason Charges.
Suggestions have been made recently
in various forms that someone in the
foreign office is in the pay of Germany
or at least is pro-German. This is a
grotesque and serious charge. 1t shows
that there are some people who are un-
able to stand the strain of war, and be-
come mere hysterical neurotics. When
things are not going right for the mo-
ment, such people think the proper course
is TO turn on the men who are trying to
serve their country and shout Traitor
traitorp
"This is disgraeeful, un-British state
OF things. 1t is utterly destructive of
the morals Of the country and it is the
duty Of every patriotic man to step on
these people.
Il assure the house that everything |
that could be legitimately done TO pre-
vent supplies going into Germany has
been done. One of the members of the
House OF Commons has said that the only |
way effectively to blockade Germany Is
10 60 TO war with the neutral countries
surrounding Germany. / want to say
most frankly that is not the policy OF /
the government.
"The great difficulty in a blockade Is
10 discriminate between goods with an
,nemy destination and those genuinely
or consumption in neutral countries.
"As to our Balkan policy, the aim
throughout has been to produce in those
Unhappy countries unity instead of dis
ord. The suggestion that the foreign
'fflce rejected an alliance with, or the
assistance Of, Greece, is absolutely with.
mt foundation"
Mr.. Runciman spoke Of the steps the
soard of Trade was taking to prepare
or commercial conditions after the war.
'eginning with the declaration;
$50 far as commerce is concerned. Ger. II
many is beaten nation, and il is for us I
o see that il does not recover"
Mr. Balfour, replying TO various speak I
rs who had complained of the shortage :
( ships for mercantile purposes, said '
hat the whole possibility of carrying I
n the war rested on the British navy II
nd its mercantile feet. lie was willing Ii
D confess that there had probably been 1
Dme waste Of tonnage. but the first bus.
less Of the admiralty was, not 90 save II
but 90 win battles. =
we cannot expect 10 carry on a war q
ith the same economy that we manage s
te port Of Liverpool o. Hull." said the n
rst lord. "The main thing has been 10 4
e that every soldier was supplied with III
] necessary 10 make the best fighting 4
nit"
lie urged that the Nisest remedy for
e shortage Of tonnage was 20 70 on
ith the building of merchant ships. v
hich be thought should BE- recognized al
ar work, second only 70 the mauufac-
re Of munitions