A DEBATE ON THE PACIFISTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 5

A DEBATE ON THE PACIFISTS

IN THE HOUSE OF LOItDS. (800. May 9, 10.40 p.m.)

London, May 8. In tho Houso of Lords, Lord Denbigh's motion deprecating pacifist activity was debated, Tho mover urged in energetic propaganda to counteract tho pacifist organisations, many of which wero inspired from enemy oources.

Lord Haldane declared that tho country need not fear the pacifist.. Tho nation's heart was sound. Regarding tho war aims, the War Aims Committee should educate public opinion regarding tho urgency of c mibating German ponetration after the war. The country should complete its industrial preparation to safeguard our position. Lord Lansdowne agreed lhat.it was needful to instruct peoplo better conoorning^Gormtu methods and war aims. He denied that ho had ever advocated a peaco b,v surrender. Lord Denbigh seemed to thiol: that there must not bo peaco by negotiation. But peace would not drop from the clouds.

Lord Lansdowno added: "Lord Donbigh relics on a knock-out blow, but tho country has not been told how and whon the blow will be delivered, or what the cost will be. Lord Denbigh will not liavo peace with umchastoned Germany, but Germany was already chastened last autumn bocauso slio failed in her main initial war objects. Thero is a great and increasing respectable body of opinion in tho Kingdom which tarncstly desires a negotiated peace, and a similnr condition exists in Austria and Germany. I wished to oncourqgu that kind of opinion. Lord Denbigh's policy Might drivo tho British peoplo into a most dangorous mood. I rejoice that reasonable people .can still bo found bore, olherwiso I would despair of tho country." Lord Boavorljrook agreed that the pacifist activities were considerable before the German offensive. Tho Government must and would combat thorn when (hey wero renowed, but could not stop tho supply of paper because tho Government's policy was not to interfere with freedom of fcpooch in tho Prc6s if consistent with the prosecution of the war.

Lord Cim'zoii said that too much had been made •■( tho pacifist propaganda. Certain contemptible rags -disseminated dangerous dectrines, but generally the people's heart was sound. The Government had always envisaged '-ho possibility of an honourable) pence by negotiation, but thero was no hone of that until Germany's military spirit was broken — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ass.i.