Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-14
b0NAR LAW ANSWERS
CRITICS OF GOVERNMENT
Ships Great Britain Imports Same
Amount AS Before.
GRATEFUL FOR AMERICAN AID
Cabinet Spokesman Repeats Chal-
Ienge to House to Oyerturn Min-
fstry IL 1t Is Dissatisfied With
Conduct OF War.

LONDON. February ia d o "
Bonar Law. Chancellor OF tho Tx
cheuuer. and government leader In the
House Of Commons. replying TO crit
| icisms of the government with respect
to its home policy. said that in lei?
the national service depa rtment had
put into tho army S20.6i5 additional
men and placed in employment 1T home
$4,000 men ind $4,000 women.
Referring TO tho foorr production. he
said that the cereals produced in Eng
land in 1917 amounted to $4,000 tons.
and, in addition, the country had pro-
duccd an extra 100000 tons OF pota
toes.
England. sa id the Chancellor. was the
only country in the war where there
had not been Il dlininution In food pro-
duction. 4 million additional acres
were being put under the plow. This
year 100000 acres more had been cul-
tivatcd in England and 100000 more in
Scotland and ireland. The to-. Il
stocks Of wheat in Great Britain at
the end of December. 1917. exceeded
those at the end Of December, 1916. Ivy
100000 quarters. In 1917 there waa
built in Great Britain l,l63.4If tons Of
shipping. and 10000 tons were obtained
from abroad. The Chancellor eXpla ined
that the Premier's estimate of ship
construction was not realized because
ihc government had arranged to have n
larRc quantity of tonnage built ia
America. but when America came into
the war she preferred. az the British
would have preferred. to rakc tho tom
mage herself. But tho tonnage was
there.
Empha sizing the value Of tho ship
ping controllers work. MIR. Ronar Law
said that. in spite of tho dimunition OF
ships. and In spite Of the fact that
Great Britain had lent 500. 600 rross
tons for the use Of her niles in SEN
TENDER. October and November, the
nation had actually imported the same
amount as had been Imported from
February to April
II had been suggested said the
Chancclor. that because America had
entered the war Great Britain ought to
have TO spend less. America had given
great help. not only to Great Britain's
allies, but to Britain herself for which
Britain could not he too grateful But
the pressure on the allies, owing to
the long continuance OF tho war. had
made the burden very great. and he
waS glad TO say that this country had
been able 10 give not less assistance
(" some OF her allies because OF the
assistance of America.
Mr.. Bonnr Law defended the present
system Of the government, pointing out
that the War Cabinet idea had been
adopted by all the bclligercnts. lie
repeated Premier Lloyd Georges chai-
iengc that II the Iious. OF Commons did
not have confidence in the government,
II ought to get government which
would carry on the work better than
the present government. But until the
House did this it was tho duty OF the
members 10 avoid any criticism. which
would only be damaging.
Il have no moro interest in this
Prime Minister than had in the last
declared Bonar Law, and | wish 10
see fair play for both. But ] would
rather see at the head OF the govern
mcnt a man who makes tho mistake
OF being ovcrsanguine and ovcrbuoyant
than man who suffers from pes
siIniSm."