NAILING A GERMAN LIE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 9

NAILING A GERMAN LIE

SCORNFUL REPUDIATION BY MR, LLOYD GEORGE

MOVING TRIBUTE TO THE DOMINIONS

[On September 6 last, the British Prime Minister (Mr. Lloyd George),

speaking at tho opening of the National Eisteddfod at Birkenhead (Cheshire), repudiated the German calumnies as to the responsibility of the war, and incidentally paid a moving tribute to the part played by tho overseas "Dominions in tho fight for freedom. The speech was very fully cabled out to Australia, and was . published (as below), in the AustraliauJPrcss. To the New Zealand Press was cabled from Sydney tho fragmentary paragraph which is reproduced, for comparison, in the footnote appended.' It will be noted that the .reference.to the Dominions was not included in the paragraph.] London, September S-9. Mr. Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Great Britain) opened the National Eisteddfod at Birkenhead (Cheshire) on Thursday, and was rapturously received. In the course of his oddress, the Prime Minister paid a tribute, in moving language, to the overseas Dominions. Their affection for tho Mother Country, ho said, continued to grow, and would become deeper and more compelling as the years rolled on. This was the day of Empire, and the world had never seen such a powerful organisation. "When the war is over," proceeded Mr. Lloyd George, "and, please God, the end should come soon, humanity will recognise how much human liberty owes to the fact that the British Empire waa not a eham, but a reality. One shudders to think what would have happened but for tho British Enipire, with its resources and strength, and its millions of men that came from across the flood. This is the day of great empires, which are necessary for protection, security, and strength; but small nations are necessary for the concentration of the intensive system.. The present tremendous conflict centres around little nations. They were the first to accept the aecres6or's challenge.

A Commonwealth. of Nations. "The British Empire is » a commonwealth of raany nations. Some are old enough to have Eeen the folly of many emniree, but Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are new. It is more than remarkable, it is a very significant fact, that the more cautious end more clamnnt new nationhoods and young- peoples become, the more their affection increases for the British Empire, and the-more effective, the more real, becomes their contribution to its strength. New Zealand has half the population of Wales, yet she has already contributed to the Old Country in her hour of trial ns many gnllant -warriors as we sent with the Expeditionary Force to Prance at the beginning of the wai\ (Cheers.) Tet local patriotism in Now Zealand is as intense as in Wales, Scotland,- Ireland, or England.- (Renewed cheers.) As a man grows in years his distinctive experiences rnnke a mark on his .features, and so with nations. As generations' roll hy New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and South Africa will have distinctive features which will mark them out in the assembly of nations. I predict that their affection for the Motherland will continue to grow, and their pride in the federation of free people will become deeper and more intense. The Germans have not vet felt the final strain. When they do they will realise the binding value of real freedom. If Russia had enjoyed more freedom during time of peace she would n.'ive been more united in war. Unity in action is not suppressioa of freedom. Tt U. the highest freedom. It is the strength of. the British Empire that it is r;iade up 'of many free nntions, some groat, .and some small. To-day wo are one neo.ple. ,one in action, one in resolve, and one in sacrifice. Please God we r:.ay ooon be on in triumph." German Calumnies. Mr. Lloyd George declared that the German attempts to produce the impression in Russia, that the war was due to the machinations of Great Britain had not gone home. Vf Kβ Tlussians knew too well that it -was a calumny and a falsehood on the face of it. The war/' said the Prime Minister, "began in the ERst, and not in the West. Russia was the first in, because she undertook to champion the cause of Serbia. France was brought in because she had undertaken, 8-s a solemn treaty obligation, to stand by Russia in case of attack. Belgium was brought in because she was on the direct rond to France, and Great Britain was brought in because she had given her word to defend Belgium. (Cheers.)

"'I scornfully repudiate the calumny that Great Britain was responsible for the war. She drew tho sword in honour of her pledged word, and it is because the leaders of the Russian democracy have realispd these facts that all the Prussians' tricks have failed to move them from their loyalty to the Allies. Recent news from Russia lias been disquieting, but I always thought that the Revolution) when it came, would postpone victory. T expected an earlier recovery in Russia, but we must be patient. Tho Russian leaders, who are all brave and patriotic men, know that in the enemy attempts on Riga the fate of the Revolution is at stake, .and they will do their utmost to defend Hie fruits of the Revolution. The Russian lenders are repairing, under fire, the machine which has broken down, and I am confident that they will finally succeed. My chief, concern is not the effect that Russia's failure will have on the war, but its effect on tho cause of democracy throughout the world. An oppressed people takes. as \ong to »et accustomed to freedom as a free people to got. accustomed to oppression. lain most gratified at the failure of the German attempts to row dissension between the Allies in the East and the Allies in the AVest. The only reason whv Germany has now decided to invade Russia is Wnu=o all her other methods and machinations have failed. Had Russia b?pn a democracy in .19K she would never hove allowed 'herself to be trampled underfoot by the confederates of autocracy. The crisis in Russia should be viewed not despondently, but hopefully.

Russia Will R'cOYer. ■.."I believe that Russia will recover and play a'great part yet before the end nf. the war in saving tho world from Prussian domination. Though there are dark clouds in the Russian sky there i,s sunshine on the banners of the Allies in nil the other theatres of war.

"Germany may boast of victories in tho East against unresisting forces, but she lias her reply in the success of the Allies in tho West, and especially in the '.recent success .of the Italians. (Cheers.) The whole Allied cause and the freedom nf the world depends on_onr pea supremacy, which I am certain will be more than maintained. German statesmen and Urn German Press have taken f»r»at pains to show tho inaoenrnoy of the figures I recently gave to tho House of Commons regarding the submarine canipnign and the speed with which our nbipninpr losses are boing made good. The figure.' T gave were absolutely correct, and (hat fact puts an end to all the enemy's hopes of winning. Imn absolutely convinced that German submarines will- never be able to bear down (ho strength of the British Empire or the hopes of the Allies. America, which has now come into tho conflict, has never known defeat, and this time also f--he, with I'"• Allies, will triumph over the foe. "For nil Ihese reasons I nek you to bo of stout heart. There, nwv ix> stonv paths tc climb, lint we. will climb them. Our footpaths may be blood-stained, but we shall rwich tho heights, and then in front of us we shall ece the lich valleys and plains of the new world." (Loud cheers.)

THE SPEECH AS IT APPEARED IN NEW ZEALAND

Mr. Lloyd George, in n speech at Birlcenhead, said that the whole Allied cause for the freedom of tho world depended on our'sea supremacy, which he was ci.r. tain would be more than maintained. Figures he recently gave to the House

of Commons regarding the work of the submarines were absolutely correct. They pnt_ an end to the enemy's hopes. The Russian leaders were repairing under fire tho revolutionary machine. Ho wns confident they would finally succeed. His cbief coacorn was not tile effect Russia s failure would hnvo on the war, but its effect upon the cause of tho world's democracy. Germany only now decided to invade Russia because'all her other methods and machinations thero had failed. Tho crisis, in Russia should bo viewed hopefully. He believed Russia would recover and play a great part beforo tho end of the war.