"LET US MAKE SURE"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2224, 10 August 1914, Page 5

"LET US MAKE SURE"

MR, TO i&H EMPIRE "THROW ALL RESOURCES INTO SCALE " - TREMENDOUS CHEERING BY M.P;'S ___ I r By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 9, 5.5 " " " London;-August. • .In thecourse o£ his-epeeoh in the'Hohso-; of Commons asking for a vote of ,a hun- .i died, millions, Mr. Asquith 6uid posterity would pay Sir' Edward Grey tho oest tri- ■ b'ufe that he, was a,statesman .who 'never, derogate, for ;ati instant lionour and interests of 'the cbuiitry'a'nd"-" strove as, few,, have, striven to' secure; universal- peaoe. Ho commented on Herr-Voii Bethmann Hollweg's offer regarding .the T;' French colonies and small States, and ' pointed out that, while an assurance, was > givon regarding the independence and neutrality of Holland, there was no mention ■ of Belgium's neutrality. Without seeking to inflame the passions, , without seeking to incite tho feeling ' against Germany, lie asked tie House' to'."-' consider what the proposals amounted to.. They meant that behind Franco's back-. Germany should be given a' free license to annex France's extra-European possessions. What reply could' to 'make"in view.'; of Belgium's appeal, whioh none ..could read-with.;an unmoved-heartP -The Bel--, gians fighting. gallantly andi sacrificing lives, andwe would'haw to say that "without Belgiumfs iiriowledge, we had bartered away .to a Power threatening her our obligations to keep our plighted word. None knew better than the Ministers the terrible- and incalculable suffering assn- " dated war, With ,that'ayrfuV.overpowering consciousness-they_ -have thought v' it tlieir -diity' u's well' aft in ther.int'erests , of the country to go to war. He felt sure the country agreed that the sword had been unsheathed in a just cause. (Loud cheers.) - They were fighting for the principle that reliance could be placed on the national good faith. i "Now wei hav«. entered the stfliggle let. us niiilrb' sure," ,ho said;; "that all the resources, not only of Britain, but of the vast Empire, aro "thrown in the scale." : Ho mentioned lliat India was prepared to send troops, and would supply at least, two divisions, ' ' ' What, England is Fighting For. Mr. Asquith added: "If asked what are we fighting for, I would say: "Firstly, to fulfil our solemn international obligations, which if, entered into' between private per- 1 ' sons would have been obligations of law and howour which no self- s ' respecting man would repudiate. .' - j .—"Secondly,. ..we aro fighting to I the' principle that small ' nations'aW" not' to'be crushed _in . f defiance of international good faith at the arbitrary will of a •« "strong,'overmastering Power." Tho Government asked for a free hand in.spending, ft hundred, million sterling, .which would be applied not only for military and naval operations, but, also for assisting, the food supply and promoting the continuance of trade and industry. _ "The House," he added, agree it is wiso to extend tho ambit of a , .vote of credit this way. It would be a great disaster if the Government were unable to make -provision Which would be more needed than Tinder the simpler conditions of former days for the ramification of ex- . penditure which a state; of war between great Powers must entail."- 1 After paying tribute u) the efforts of India - and the overseas Dominions, Mr. Asquith concluded: "It is not the pur-, pose of, any patriot to inflame the feeling or excite the animosities;, the situation is far too grave.' We. have'a great duty lo perform and a great trust to _fulfil; and we' are confident Parliament and' the. coun.try. will,/enable us to do .it." . . Mr. Bonar 'Law (Leader of the Opposition) Vsaid lie" was optimistic" cnougli. to believe that-too'gloomy a view was being taken legarding the effect, of .ore<Ut. Fjyesisths of Britain's production was employed in the Homo trade, and the total exports to all bellrcerents did not exceed the exports to India and Australia. The war was due to human folly, and human ."wickedness, but neither- the foil;? ®®r_.-tlio .•■wickedness lay upon Ittarasy Napoleonism over ojjain, but; thankHeaven, so far," he said, "we know there, is no Napolean."' ' ■ • , _ Mr. Ponsonby. on behalf of the Kadio. als, heartily supported the Government. All stood shoulder to shoulder. . The hundred million rote and the increase in the Army were both adopted witli tremendous cbOßrin^«