, 1916-02-26
Censored at ~Jamaica.)

TO II Hava's despatch from Barbecue. The
Zeppelin was brought to earth by the
first shot from an autO-mounted cannon at
Bavigny, the despatch says.
London, Febv.e 22nd.-The Government,
through the Mmquii Of Lansdowne, an
nouhced III the House Of Lords tonight
that it had decided to turn over all matters
connected with the blockade of Germany
10 one man, who would rank as u full-nedged
Cabinet NJ mister. It is understood that the
new post will go to Lor6 Robert Cecll, who,
since the formation of the Coalition Gov
ernmeut, has been Uuder Secretary for
Foreign Affairs. He viii retain this post
Joining tue Cabinet as blockade Minister.
The new Minister will be charged with the
administration of the Order in Council re5u-
iat4ng the blockade, as well as responsibility
for the general policy and practice of the
Government with respect to trade passing
into or from ueutral countries. The whole
question of the blockade was thre>hed ont
al considerable length. IN the House of Lords
this evening, Lords Sydenham and Beres-
ford making the principal appeals for q
stricter blockade while the MAJ gus Of Lans-
downe and Lord Bucknaster defended the
Government. 1t was Lord Bere~tord's
maiden speech in the House of Lords and
his plea was spirited aud e~plgrammutic.
"There is some doubt" ,he began"Whether the
Government is gong about It's task III the
right way. A war WAS never won by Orders
inCouncil, approximations, but by hard hitting.
Ii we want to bring Germany to her knees
we must exercise the blockade power thor
oughly and completely, under the princi-
pies of international Law. To DO that it
is necessary to have a policy and tutn
it over to. the Navy and let the Navy
enforce it. These Orders in Council may
be craftsmanship but they are not war,
and they are not likely to win the war. |
would allow nothing whatever to go into Ger
many, not even luxuries. | wonld abolish the
distinction between absolute and conditional
contrabaud. | would extend the doctrine of
continuous voyage to all contfaband. The
war should be run by five Cabinet Ministers
without Departmental duties. The longer we
hive civilian control of the operations
Of the war the more disasters we shall
suffer. The Marquis. of Lansdowne replied
to Lord Beresford point to point. "The con-
duct of the wal" he said, "Is already in the
hands of a small Committee and that Commit
tee, so far as the conduct of the war is con-
cerAel, has ever since it was created been
hampered by the interference of the civilian
members Of the Cabinet. 1t is by no means
true that there has been anything approach
ing universal increase in the quantity of
goods passing through neutral countries in
sie past year. [ maintain that the filtration
of goods to the enemy through neutrals shows
a marked tendency to diminish owing to the
measures the Government has taken. Elk
perienced officials say that practically no
commodities of military Importance are now
being imported into neutral countries above
the amount legitimately required for home
consumption. Our blockade has accomplish
ed some very satisfactory results, and [ think
The Cabinet scarcely deserves to be stig-
mutized as it was the other day as feeble
aud nerveless. Our ne1veless policy has kill
ed German export trade and seriously Grip
pied their import trade. / sometimes wish
that people of this country could have expo
lience. say for 2 weeks, of the conditions
prevailing now 10 Austria and Germany. /
am satisfied that we would then hear no more
of thus talk about the Government sitting
with folded hands and doing nothing. Lord
Buckmaster summed up the Governments
p sition as follows: Although the principles
Of International Law are flexible and capable
of growth and change, We cannot in this
great struggle be too sensitive in consider
ing what those principles really are. We
should certainly have lost if, when the war
ended. II could be urged that under stress