"Enemy association" is a very elastic term, and it gets over all difficulties which have arisen in the past in neutral countries, such for instance as the establishment of Germens in America or in Holland, who are regarded under international law as neutral firms. Whereas of course they are nothing of the kind. In any case the Government is going to treat the whole matter on the broadest possible lines, and you can take it as certain that after the war matters will never again revert in our lifetime to the status quo ante the war. In other words, public opinion even among free traders of the most pronounced type is now steadily moving in the direction of—
(1) Trade within the Empire. (2) Preferential trade among the Something of the kind is bound to come into existence, end therefore those Britons all over the world who are now struggling against German domination and German competition should be stimulated to continue, because the economic battle is only just commencing. Fortunately, the House of Commons is not disposed to half measures on this matter. The For-sign Office only wants the present outside ed war tragedy due to love or jealousy is chronicled. Not " sign is anywhere noticeable of distress or suffering. Even the losses of those we love best are carefully concealed. There is next to no mourning on the streets—an armand is all, pathetic in its appeal. Crape is little worn. I know a family where four sons have "gone west" as we now say and the parents bear their sorrow in silence and proud dignity.
Life at the start. of 1916 is superficially quite normal. We adjust ourselves to everything without murmur. To-morrow the railway companies sweep into the forgetfulness of the past practically one half of the railway facilities we have enjoyed in recent years. No protests are either heard or read. We look forward to 1916 not merely with optimism but with actual relief. We feel the record of the past twelve months has not been very brilliant, We know the reasons why. We are all too well instructed in the extraordinary unpre-poredness of the nation as s whole for the war. We have by gigantic effort almost surmounted The output of munitions, though capable of unlimited extension if the skilled workmen would in fifty per cent of their number make an effort, is growing daily. The extended leave now being given to soldiers at the front distributes all similar nature to deal with pro-German firms in this country. The best thing for the British overseas would be to collect privately lists of suspect firms and get in touch with the Consular representatives on the spot. The Royal Proclamation may be expected at any moment and then we can all set to work. over the country eloquent apostles of still greater energy. Every night armies of tired men arrive at Victoria from the front, It is extraordinary how well they look—last night at this station there arrived an exceptionally large contingent for the New Year's holiday. One told me it was the first time de had been home for twelve months—on his arm he wore London, Jan. 31.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.