THE NATIONAL ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2572, 21 September 1915, Page 5

THE NATIONAL ISSUE

VOLUNTEER OR CONSCRIPT A QUESTION OF FACT, NOT PRINCIPLE MR. LLOYD GEORGE DECLARES HIS'VIEWS , PUBLIC CONTROVERSY DEPRECATED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, September 19. The Press Uurcau states that Mr. Llcyd George, in replying to a constfr tuent's letter, ►:ays: "'You say riglitly that 'tho Government ought to give the nation a lead upon the question whether the moral obligation of every able-bdied mau to defend the country ought to be converted into a legal obligation.' I ean assure you die Government is fully alive to the necessity of giving a definite lead, mid is now examining the subject with tho view to rightly deciding. Undue 'delay and undue precipitancy miglit be equally disastrous. Let us avoid botli.

. _ 'The jssuc is 0110 of fact, not of ciple. If figures demonstrate that wo can win through with voluntaryism, then it would be folly to provoke a controversy in the middle of a worldwar by attempts to substitute a totally different method. On the other hand, if tho figures demonstrate to everyone not prejudiced that voluntaryism' has exhausted its utility, and .nothing but legal pressure can give us the armies necessary to defend tho honour of Britain and save Europe from a triumph of military despotism, I have not heard of a man who would under those circumstances resist compulsion. Men who say they will resist. if this expedient is proved necessary to save tho country and tho freedom >'•{ the world Jiavo not yet appeared in tho arena. If they do appear I predict they will not be found among tho working classes. ' 'Tho question is wholly one ascertainable by fact. Why, then, all this premature anger in determining facts not .yet published? When the facts are sifted and made known, the advocates of either view will surely find that whole cylinders of fervour and ferocity have been wasted in attacking positions w'hich they will then discover they ought to .defend. Lot the Government Decide. "Let the Government have a fair, chance to decide. All this clatter and racket outside the Council Chamber is fatal to deliberation. Especially I beg tli© public not to heed' the paragraphs ascribing certain attitudes to different Ministers. These are invariably inspired by hostile intent, and tho task of contradiction would be endless. When | the time comes these Ministers will be I quite capable of defining, and will not hesitate_ to define, their own. views. Meanwhile, let personal "recrimination drop; it prisons all good'counsel •in every controversy. There aro mean little people who assume'that their own motives in taking up a certain lino are the most exalted and of the noblest character, but thaifc those daring' to differ from them are animated by tho basest personal aims. They aro a small faction, but they are mischief-makers, and have ofton perverted discussion into dissension, seemingly aiming to spread distrust and disunion among men whose co-operation is essential, for national success. These creatures ought to bo stamped out relentlessly by all parties as soon as tbey aro seen crawling along the floor. A Note of Alarm. "The opinions I have formed regarding essential action are prompted by the sincere persuasian that nothing but the' exertion of our whole strength will obtain a victory, upon which so much depends. Having como to that conclusion, I am bound to do my best to secure that effect without the least rogard to the effect my appeals may have upon my own political fortunes. The issue is the gravest any country has ever been called on to decide; let it be settled in a spirit worthy of its gravity. 1 withdraw nothing I have said regarding tho seriousness /of ,tho position. Naturally, I take a hopeful view of tho prospects of tho cause in which I am concerned; but I know too well that to ignore dangers which 0110 can see with the naked eye is the most fruitful source of disaster in all affairs. Events alone will prove whether I liavo unduly alarmed the public by pointing out for months tho dangers of the present war. I would indeed be a traitor if I did not hope fervently that the course of the war will prove that I have over-esti-mated the worst evils."

"I liave not written without warrant in facts known, both to the enemy and to us, facts which' I thought would already _ have sobered the most fatuous optimist. Therefore, I felt driven by the jeopardy of my nativo laud .to sound a note of alarm, and have dono so in the -confident belief that if it succeeds in rousing us in time to put forth all our strength, we shall win. If for any reason I fail, it-will bo sorry comfort to be able to taunt with their mistakes those who are now abusing me because of my daring to call 'attention to the'coming storm before it overwhelms 'the land, and because I am striving to induce my fellow-countrymen to prepare in time for its onslaught,"