"ASTERN PEACE"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 5

"ASTERN PEACE"

MR. LLOYD GEORGE ON THE PEACE AIMS ABSOLUTE UNANIMITY OPPOSITION MOVEMENT IN GERMANY By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, April 17. In the course of his speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George, refrrring to the Russian problem, said: "Had we abandoned Koltchak and Deniken to the Bolshevists it would l.ave been an act thoroughly unworthy of any great land. They only asked to be supplied with arms." He did not regard that as in the least degree a departure from British fundamental policy. Our policy was to prevent any forcible irruption of Bolshevism into Allied lands, therefore wo were organising all the forces in the Allied countries bordering on the territories from the Baltic to the Black Sea. If Bolshevism attacked any of our Allies it 'was our business to defend them. The world would not bo passive so long as Russia was torn and rent by civil war. Our policy was to induce the warring parties in Russia to meet and discuss the establishment of a commonly acceptable authority which (he Allies could recognise as the Russian Government. He did not despair of a solution. There were even now promising factors. Reliable ■ information indicated that while tlie Bolshevist forces were apparently growing in strength, Bolshevism itself was rapidly waning, ant! breaking down before a Telentless economic pressure. There were unmistakable signs that Russia was emerging, and when she again became sane and normal we should make peace in Russia. Replying to an interruption by Mr. J. R. Clynes (Labour), the Premier said that the Government had had no i-p----proaches at all from the Russian Bolshevist Government.' He had heard reports that others had had proposals which they assumed to be authentic. These were never submitted to the Peace Conference by any member of the Conference, and therefore the Conference had not considered them.

Referring, to the general peace terms, Mr. Lloyd Georgo said that the representatives of the Great Powers had reached a complete understanding on tho great fundamental questions affecting peace with Germany. They had formulated demands, and he hoped by tho end of next week that they would be presented. The' Premier strongly denounced attempts-to sow dissension and distrust between tho Allies, and said that none of them could have treated more sympathetically the peculiar problems and susceptibilities of Europe, with their and bitter memories of national conflict, than had President Wilson. They had never forgotten the poignant fact that most of the war sufferings and sacrifices had been borne by heroic France., They had not forgotten that she was entitled to feel some sense of security against a repetition of the attack. "Upon all questions that came before us," lie said, "wo came to unanimous conclusions." What happened at Hie Vienna Congress, he added, showed the importance of unanimity. The Pence Conference had unanimously and unhesitatingly concluded that it would be a first-class blunder to publish peace terms before they wero discussed with the enemy. No Peace Conference had ever given its proceedings so much publicity, but ho would rather have a good peace than a good Press. The Conference would take every action necessary to provont premature publication, which might only encourage the enemy to resist. The Premier declared that every pledge the Government had given had been incorporated in the. Allies' demands. The Government had never swerved one iota from these demands. They had stood by them been use they thought, them just.; "What we want is a stern peace, because tho occasion demands it, not to gratify vengeance, but to vindicate justice. _ Every clause in the terms must be justified on that ground. Above all. wo want to protect the future against a repetition of tho horrors of this war."

Mr. Lloyd George, after denouncing tho nowspaper attempts to sow dissension between the Allies, and emphasising the necessity of freeing commerco ar.-d industry as soon as possible, and reduc ing our enormous war expenditure, Raid that one of tho results of peace would bo the abolition of tho great Continental menace of armaments. The forces of Germany would be reduced to an army only just adequate to polico her cities and protect her commerce. We end Eiirotio must profit thereby. The danger was not' that there "might bo a recrudescence in Germany, because Germany would only with difficulty raise eighty thousand armed men to preserve order, but that the world was- going to pieces, and the gaunt spectre of hunger was stalking llrawigh the land—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE LONG-EXPECTED TREATY DETAILS THIS WEEK PERHAPS (Rec-April 20, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 18. Tt is reported that the Peace Treaty will comprise nearly one , thousand articles. The Plenarv Session'may possibly be held on April 25, when tho treaty will be submitted. It will then be handed to the Germans next day — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

THE PJIOCRAMJLE OF STEPS. (Eee. April 21, 0.45 a.m.) New York, April 15. The United Press Paris correspondent learns authoritatively that the nonce progrnmmq will include tho following steps: —The treaty will be handed to tho Germans on April 25. If the German delegates have plenary power they will sign the instrument immediately, otherwise it will bo submitted to the German Government at Weimar. Senorato treaties will be presented to Austria, Turkey, and Bulgaria a few days after April 25. The Allied Governments will be permitted from twenty to thirty days to ratify Hie treaties after the Central Powers sign. When two-thirds of the Governments concerned sign the treaties tney will become effective—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

RESISTANCE TO THE PEACE TERMS OPPOSITION PROPAGANDA IN GERMANY. (Rec. April 20, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 15. There is widespread propaganda in Germany for tho purpose of organising tho public to resist extravagant terms. It is understood that the German . delegates will demand the immediate raisingjoHno blockade, the- evacuation of tho Rhineland, and tho prompt release of all toman prisoners—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Rec. April 20,. 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 18. A good deal of bumptious talk filters through from Gormany in regard to her nttitudo towards the peace terms, even before sho knows the details. he German newspapers strongly resent the Wiar Valley proposition, and declare that tiermany will never assent lo it, as it upsets all her industrial schemes, of which the destruction of the French mining industry formed a part. They also appear to have lost faith in the League of Nations, which al the outset they regarded as their lifebuoy, but winch thev new sen is merelv a machine by which tho Allies can impose more severe peace con-ditions—A«s.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 'THE GERMAN DEMANDS. (Roe. April 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 15. The "Dailv Express" Weimar cor respendent interviewed Herr Ranb-an (German Foreign Mincer), who said that tho German delegates won d reject every demand differing essentially from 1W dent Wilson's programme. A lasting 2n e "mpossiUe unless .the colonies were restored, as "our colonial ac vibes a.re our foremost and most vital in-terest."-Aus.-N<Z. Cable Assn.