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MR, COOK'S VIEWS.
J . Melbourne, June 23. j '
' Referring to' the text of the resolutions
paessd at tho Economic Conference, re-
cently held by the representatives of (he
Alliea nations in Paris, the leader of the
Federal Opposition (Mr. Cook) to-day said:
"lt was splendid ¡«id dazzling even to
think that 700,000,000 of humans were to
join in a league of mutual protection aud
mutual development, caring for each others
interests and promoting each others wel-
fare. But the question arises of carrying
out tho resolutions, for it must be remem-
bered, they are only resolutions. As I seo
it, to give effect.lo them will be a stupen.
idous anil titanic undertaking. One remem-
bers tho saying, 'Better in the high aim
to fail than in the low aim to succeed/
and we should do better to fail in the at
tempt than to do nothing whatever. We
propose not only practically to prohibit at
least for a number of years, the enemy
trading with the Allies but also to bring
tho influence of th's mighty league to or-,
ganise neutral countries on a basia of eco-
nomic alliance with tho Allies. During the
reconstruction of the AWcd couutries
which may occupy many years, enemy
cmiulr:o6~*faali not bo grauted the favour-
ed HaUoiiuTtreatmcui, and- tho - Allies may
fix. a number of years duriug which goode
from tho Central Powers may actually be
prohibited from entering Allied countries,
while special conditions for a like period
? màV bo imposed" upon the shipping of, the
countries with which wo are at present at
wa*. In hrlef. the Allied league ie to win
tho war. Then, during the period of years;
covering .the reconstruction,, almost entirety
to sus;^nd all intercourse w«th the Central ]
Powers, practically maintaining intact and j
unbroken that baud of steel which has
I been 6o eloquently spoken of. We cannot
believe that tba Central Powers will be
satisfied to take their medicine lying
j down. They will prepare for a further at-
tempt upon the liberties of the world, un
! less, indeed, we succeed in enthroning in
Central Europe the idea of public right
as tho basia of all civilised human inter-
course. Our Empire will require all us
strength to meej; ibo exigencies of the
future, and to that end Ehould be preach-
ed a sound patriotism that makes a nation
believe in 31 self ; that makes military ser-
vice not an obligation to avoid if possible,
but a national duty. It is a mighty effort
wo are putting our hands to, aud we
shall moro than er requite H sword in
one hand and the trowel in the other."
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