"IF WE STAND ASIDE WE SACRIFICE OUR RESPECT"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2221, 6 August 1914, Page 5

"IF WE STAND ASIDE WE SACRIFICE OUR RESPECT"

BRITAIN jVTILL FACE THE POSITION WITH DETERMINATION, RESOLUTION, AND ENDURANCE (Roc. August 5, 6.20 p.m.) London, August 4. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Grey spoke for ninety minutes in announcing the Government's policy, anil declared ho, waa asked if armed support would be given, and replied he could promise nothing unless • he received tho whole-hearted support'/of public opinion, but ho told tho; French and German Ambassadors that-if war was forced on Franco, public opinion would Tally to "My own npinion is if a foreign fleet came arid battered the Undefended coasts of France, we could hot stand by with arms folded dispassionately doing nothing." Aftet'detailing the'negotiations with Germany, lie added: "T said enough to show that we; must bejprapared, and wc are prepared. (Cheers lasting ' over one minute).. Mr.' Asquith (Prime Minister), Mr. Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), gave me no aoubt_ of the readiness and efficiency of the forces, There was only one way that Britain can make certain of keeping outside the war, and that would be .to issue, immediately the proclamation oi unconditional, neutrality, and we cannot do that; if w6 stand aside, we sacrifice our .respect and' good name throughout the world., Wn ate going, to suffer terribly in this war. Our foreign trade is going to stop, not because our sea routes _ are cloaed, but because there will bo no trade," and cpncluded, "if tho situation developed as . V seemed probable, we would face it, and ho believed that when the country realised what was at stake, it would support the Government with determination, resolution, and endurance. (Loud cheers.) Sir Edward Grey said that Britain yesterday gave France an assurance of help if the German navy attacked in the North Sea_ Or the Channel. Germany's undertaking hot to attack the north rioaSt of France, if Britain neutrality, was, added Sir Edward, far too narrow an engagement. Mr. John Redmond said that in times past when the Empire was engaged in terrible enterprises, the sympathy of the_ Nationalists of Ireland had been estranged,'but in recent years the altered situation and wider knowledge of real V Irish -history had altered the view of the British democracy towards Lrcland, and •; he, honestly believed the Irish democracy will turn with tho utmost anxiety ami sympathy to Britain in her every trial .'and danger: possibly the history of 1778 would be .repeated when a hundred thousand Volunteers sprang into existonce to ' defend Ireland from invasion. ' . . Mr.. Etdmond (the Nationalist leader), amid tremendous cheering, said the Government itiifeht withdraw tho troops from Ireland, which the armies of the • Catholics and Ulstermen- would protect. . Mr. Eamsav.MacDonßld said if tho Government confined the queMioa to that pf Belgian neutrality the Labour Party would support them, wo woro, brought

into the Crimean War because of honour,, we rushed into the South African AVar because of honour, and Sir Edward Grey appealed to us to-'day because of honour. -■ The Marquis of Lnnsdowne and Mr. Bonar Law (Lenders of the Opposition) interviewed Sir. Asijuith (Prime Minister) prior to a Cnbinet meeting.. (Kcc. August 5, 7.85 p.m.) London, August 4 ; When the House Sir Edward Grey announced the terms of Germany's ultimatum to Belgium, which promised the maintenance of the; independence of the Kingdom on the conclusion of peace, but threatening, in case of refusal, to treat Belgium as an enemy. Sir Edward Grey added"l can only say that tuo Government has takon the information into grave consideration." Mr. P. Morrell (Labour), speaking amid interruption, said Sir Edward Grey had not given sufficient reasons to the House why* wo should intervene in the war. Mr. J. C. Wedgwood (Labour) said Sir Edward Grey had mado a wonderful jingo speech. (Loud cheers and dissent.) « i ■ Mr. Harvey (Labour) appealed to the Government to make a. supremo citort to save-tlio terrible wreckage of human life. ± v Mr. Keir Hardie (Labour) said the House -unanimously passed a Bill to relieve the Stock Exchange, but nothing to relieve the inevitable destitution. home Labour members would do, all they could to rouse the working classes in opposition to the Government's proposals. 1 , „ - i Mr. A. A. Ponsonby, Sir A. Spicer, and Mr. A. S. Rowntree, all Labour members, mado -similar appeals for further negotiations, with Germany. Lord Lansdowne, in the House of Lords, expressed his great satisfaction witli Sir Edward Grey's statement, upon which a united front might well bo based. In this statement great 'courage is shown in .this crisis, and wo need not fear that any section of the Government is likely to jeopardise the country's security ana reputation. . . „ v c It is rumoured that Mr. C. F. G. Masterman," Chancellor of tho Ducny oi Lancaster, has resigned from tho Ministry; ' _ . Viscount Morley (Lord President of tho Council) has resigned from the Britisu Cabinet; • ..