PEACE POSSIBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3417, 8 January 1912, Page 5

PEACE POSSIBLE.

turko-italian war. HOSTILITIES MAY TERMINATE SOON. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT) LONDON, Jan. 5. The Times’ Salonika correspondent states that there is reason to believe that general conditions of peace have been arranged, and hostilities will terminate in the near future. ABDUL HAMID’S JOURNAL. TO BE PUBLISHED BY GOVERNMENT. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 5. Tlie Government has determined tu publish Abdul Hamid’s journals. Five hundred boxes of memoranda were found in a chamber near hie bedroom. They reveal the extortions and political intrigues of thirty-three years. PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR. MR W. T. STEAD CALLS ITALY A HIGHWAY ROBBER. A meeting to protest against the war in Tripoli, and particularly against the massacres of Arabs, was held in 'Whitefield’s Tabernacle, Tottenham Courtroad, Loudan. The Rev. Thomas Yates, who presided, opened the proceedings by saying, “For tlie conscience of England, and for the credit of peace, we hold this present assembly, and take leave freely to speak our minds.” “Germany has made an effort at intervention ; it is our turn hoav to make an effort,” cried Mr W. T. Stead, amid cheers. The war should be stopped, not only for humanity sake, but for Italy’s sake. Italy stood before the world as a treaty breaker and highway robber. Tlie war was costing Italy two millions a week, and bankruptcy was ia terrible thing for any country to face, because behind bankruptcy there was revolution. If, added Air Stead, we were earnest, united, and unanimous, there would uot bo another Italian landed in Tripoli —if there were, he thought the British Fleet would know the reason why. There Avas not the slightest chance of the Turks giving in. “What has become of the conscience of Europe ?” asked Air Arthur Slier well, AI.P. “dt has been dragged,” replied a member of the audience.

. 'Wes,” agreed Mr Sherwell- “I believe it has been drugged to the point of stupefaction.” Mr Sherwell, in an eloquent speech, moved the first; resolution, which regretted and condemned the action of the Italian Government, and asserted it to b© the imperative duty of the British Government — To: intimate to the Italian Government without delay that no annexation of territory made by it in North Africa can have any validity until it lias 'been sanctioned by the signatories of the Treaties of 1856 and 1878, and that no such sanction will be given until Italy has made good her case and justified her conduct before an impartial tribunal. The Rev. Silverster Horne, M.P., who seconded, said Italy had marched 1 through ' greed, avarice, plunder, and rapacity to murder, and England had to standi by and say, “These things ought not to be.” Iffie resolution was canned unanimously. Mr Ounninghame Graham, in moving the second resolution, provoked a storm of dissension by his references to three leading members of the Government. He described Mr Winston Qliurchdll, as “that electro-plated Stolypin,” Mr Lloyd-George as “Praise-God-Bare-bones,” and Mr Asquith as “a forensic Buddha.” So great mas the disturbance that the chairman asked MY Cuhninghame Graham to leave personal- adjectives aside, and 1 the speaker, accepting the advice, concluded his speech in peace. The resolution he moved was seoondied by Mrs Despard, and carried. 'lt welcomed the promised visit of the Ottoman delegates pleading for the observance of treaties and the settlement of disputes by obligatory arbitration. Speeches were also made by Mr I. • Ziangwill and the Right Hon. Amir Ali, a member of the Privy Council, who spoke for the Mohammedan subjects of Britain. A third resolution was carried calling upon the British nation, apart from the political aspect of the question, "to take the lead of OKristendom in stigmatising the atrocities committed by the Italian army in Tripoli, and urging the Italian nation to make amends for “the inhuman action of its army.”