The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-15

lies require that there shall be ade-
 quate reparation for the past and
 adequate security for the future.
 That Is still the policy and still
 the determination of his majesty's
 government.
 This was the declaration of An
 drew BOnar Law, repeating the
 words of Mir. Asquith three months
 ago as he made his debut today as
 the House of Commons. It was only
 brief and passing allusion to the
 German peace proposal, but the
 ringing announcement that 1t was
 still the policy and determination
 of the government struck the key
 note of the new governments att
 titude and aroused a prolonged
 demonstration of approval.
 The sessions of both the lords and com mons were attended with unusual in- terest, as being the first bow of the new government though tho, absence of Pre- HAicT lsiuyu-1SSl5S, tiia a'sNAi SottIiiN.cu ID Y ness, left the initial scene of the new regime like Hamlet without the Dane. Great crowds besieged Westminster for admission and both chambers showed the galleries filled with eager spectators and the floors animated with newly formed political groups.
 COMMONS CHIEF INTEREST
 The House of Commons was the scene of the chief interest, however, as here five ministers of the late government Reginald McKenna, Walter Runciman, Herbert Samuel, Lewis Harcourt and H. J. Tennant-ranged themselves on the front bench of the opposition, while An drew Bonar Law, flanked by the min isters of the new administration, occH- pied the bench just vacated by the As- quith ministers across the aisle.
 MT. Asquith, like MT. Lloyd George, was absent through sickness, but even with the chief figures absent, it was strik- ing scene of the old and the new regimes facing each other at the crucial moment of the issues over war and peace.
 BIG WAR CREDIT VOTED
 The feature of the day was MT. Bonar Laws presentation of the bill for 94oo.- 00o,000 additional war credits and his in cidental reference to the peace proposal. Urging the war credit, MT. Bonar Law displayed his command of the vast finan- cial branch and his ease and readiness as parliamentary leader.
 Referring to the vast daily expendi- lures of s5.1O00OO. as colossal beyond imagination" he frankly declared that such figures could not be continued in definitely; all that could be hoped for was to continue them long enough to beat the enemy
 NOTE NOT RECEIVED
 MT. Bonar Laws reference to the Ger man proposal came as he closed. He D, efaced it with the statement that the proposal had not yet reached his majes- tvs government, and that it was ob- vious that no member of the government could make statement and tiat in his view it were better that very little should be said in the House of Commons. Then came his renewal of MT. Asquith's declar- ation for adequate reparation and securi- ty as still the policy of the government which was the one thing he felt it neces- sary to refer to at this stage
 AMERICAN DOLLAR SUPREME
 MT. Kenna's reply from the opposition bench, besides complimenting MT. Bonar Law, referred to the commanding influ- ence of the American dollar as the re- suit of the war.
 It is not easy to convert sterling wealth into dollar wealth. he said. We must pay ip dollars for what we buy now, not only in America, but all over the world.'
 The debate was brief and the war credit was passed by unanimous vote. Some speeches referred to the German proposal but there was no discordant note.
 MT. Bonar Law announced that Par lament would be prorogued on December p for period not yet determined.
 RECEIVED IN ITALY
 Paris. December H-The German peace proposals have been delivered to the Italian government, but they contain, according to Foreign Minister Sonnino, no precise indication as to the conditions upon which peace negotiations might be attempted.
 Rome said Baron Sonnino made statel which he said the proposals had been acted as representative in Italy of Ger tt,ta ir,;O 7 d 1