THE PEACE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 241, 5 July 1919, Page 7

THE PEACE TREATY

EXPLAINED BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE TERMS 'STERN,. BUT JUST TRIAL OF THE KAISER BRITISH EMPIRE'S GREAT WAR RECORD' By Tclocraph-Press Association-Copyright (!\'ec. July i, 10.35 p.m.) London, July :). The House of Commons was crowded when Mr. Lloyd George gave his address on the Peace Treaty. The Prince of Wales was in the Peers' Gallery. The Prime Minister, who was .enthusiastically welcomed, said he had to lay on the lable two Bills to enforce the momentous document to which the Seal of the' British Umpire had been affixed. One was to give effect to the provisions of the Treaty, the other to obtain sanction to the Anglo-French Convention. Tho Prime Minister paid it tribute to the services of Air. Balfour, Air. Barnes, and the overseas representatives. Justness of the Terms. Air. Lloyd George said the terms were In many respects terrible, but so \s«k the deeds and the consequences thereof indicted upon hie" world. The latter would have .been more terrible had tier-, many succeeded. The terms of the Treaty were stern, but just. After describing Germany's great downfall, the Prime Minister emphasised the justness of the restoration • of Alsace-Lorraine, Schleswig-Holstein, and Poland, also Ui'c 'justness of the reparation terms, concerning which lie declared that il' the whole cost uf the. war had been thrown upon Germany it would have accorded, with every principle of civil jurisprudence. Air. Lloyd George then emphasised (lie justice of the disarmament of Germany, and' the deprivation of .'her. colonies. Concerning the latter, he emphasised the fact that there was most overwhelming evidence that Germany had cruelly ill-treated the natives, and in the face of this restoration of those colonics (especially in view of the part the natives had taken in their own liberation, thus.giving Germany ah opportunity to make reprisals) would have been a base betrayal. The Prime Milliliter poiuted out that Germany used -her colonies in South Africa in order to stir up sedition and rebellion against the Smith African Union, and used her colonics elsewhere as bases for preying on the commerce of the adjacent colonies. "It would have been folly if we had renewed German's opportunities for mischief," Ihe Prime Aiinister added. The Heinousness of Germany's Offence. ■ The tribunal in Loudon lo try the Kaiser would be mi inter-Allied one. (Cheers.) Tho .officers guilty of wibmnrine outrages would' be tried; They . would get absolutely a fair Irial. (Cheers.) The Prime .Minister challenged anyone lo point out ,a .single act of injustice in tho peace teiTis— anything which any perfectly impartial Court would not have adjudicated in exactly tho' same way. Referring lo criticisms that though individual conditions might lie right, the cumulative elfect was crushing, and that, the Treaty, though it might bo just, might not be wise, Air. Lloyd George emphasised the ncinousnoss of Germany's offence, also, tho fact that Germany had suffered less than other countries in the tear. Germany's crime must be marked. The. world coflld not take these risks again. The German people were not. being punished for the'criific'of their rulers, .for. the Ot'i'inon. people ,had unitedly and enthusiastically approved of'the war. Mr. Lloyd ' George' unhesitatingly challenged anyone lo point lo a single clause in tho Treat?-which .did not accord with the stem. and highest demands of justico and fair play. . , . Not a "Scrap of Papor." "We were determined that Ihe.Trealy should, not be a scrap of paper," Air. Lloyd George continued. The guarantees included tho disarmament of Germany and the destruction of her airenals. The. British delegates,, without hesitation, proposed that, the reduced German Army should be a voluntary and, long servico one, thus leaving the mass of the peoplo untrained, and rendering it,-itopossibl» for Germany to raise huge, armies. The same applied, to thcNnvy. Ho. proposed In introduce a Bill dealing with tho Anglo-American guarantees in. the event of an unprovoked attack on France. (Cheers.) Franco had ft legitimate reason for serious apprehension when the armies of Britain and Ai'ner. iea had gone home, flnd tho gallant men of the Dominions— (cheers)—who had fought So bravely in France—Australians, Now Zcalandors, South Africans, Canadians—all of whom had won tho deepest affection of tho French people.. AVhen these.-had departed, and Prance saw only the.Phinc between her end the foe'wito had. trampled Iter ruthlessly, 'and lorn . her flesh twice within living memory, Franco said "Wo would like to know that you -Briton's, and Americans, who- helped to emancipate our soil, are still behind us against wanton aggression." The Prime Minister invited Parliament to soy "Yes." (Cheers.) He did not agree that that would showalack' of faith in tho League of Nations..' The latter would bo valueless unless it had the sanction behind it of strong nations, prepared 10 slop aggression at a moment's notice. Tho document only bound us in case of wanton provocation by Germany. Cost of Army of Occupation. The other guaranleo was I ho army of occupation. Franco did not wish to keep the army on the Rhino a single day longer than was absolutely neoessui'V,-\ and if Germany showed goodwill ami.gave tho necessary guarantee .France was quite prepared to reconsider .tho. question.of occupation at the proper -.moment. Britain was directly' interested . in the question of the cost of the .•irniy of occupation, because she did not wish lo impose unnecessary expense, upon ('ewnany which would be a luvst charge r.pon the indemnity fund. The Government had an understanding with France that tho moment Germany carried out her undertaking with regard to ''disarmament the cost of the army of occupation should not exceed 240 niiilion marks.- The agreement on this matter was signed by President Wilson, M. Clemcnc'caii, find hininelf. It required' no ratification. ( The League of Nations. Lastly, there was the guarantee of the League, of Nations, a. great, hopeful experiment which was only rendered possible by the other'.epnditijns of peace.. It was liue, to the world to try the experiment earnestly. The League, unfortunately, did not mean that wo would never have war,,but it would be justified if it prevented one war. (Cheers.) We •begged that nobody would sneer at the, League. (Loud cheers, especially from the Labour benches.) He believed the experiment would succeed, that ■ the League would make crime difficult end unsuccessful. Therefore he looked hopefully and conlidenlly to the League for great things for Immunity, lie expressed the opinion that immediate admission of Gernriny lo Ihe League would be u mistake. The date of Germany's admission depended upon herself. (Cheers.) . if Germany created obstacles, and -bowed that the same old spirit animate.l her. she would r.nt ;'."i'c!."r!i!eii<?ili't'.<! but if <!,<- 'Wil'v shower! that she bad broken with the nasi. :!•!>!■ the tiros nf war had unfilled hsr sou!, and Ihul: she realised that the pnlii-. •:' 'h v c h'.Kt 110 vears had been a biiK- inMak", 'heii she could accelerate flic date. The sooner that came about the he!tar il would be for Germany .mi! Ihe world. The German Colonies. lii'lVrriug lo Ihe German colonics; thej Premier raid those would not be distributed anion-,' Hie conquerors, but they would be administered by the Great Powers on behalf of liui'tntiiity. The mandatory Powers would dill'er accordim! to the particular Icrnlory concerned. For example, SouthrWesl Africa, running

as it did alongside the Cape, was felt In be so much n part, geographically, of that country, Hint it would .be quite impossible to treat it in the same way as a colony removed two or free thousand miles from the centre of Ihe mandatory administration. Doubtless South-West Africa would become an integral part of a Federation of South Africa. It" would be colonised by South 'Africans.. They could not- have done anything else, for they could hot set up Customs' barriers and different systems of administration. The same applied '.a but did not en.ul.v to Togolnnd, Hie Cnmeroons, or German East. Africa. It would be found that the conditions of the mandates set up for these territories were the same as implied to the British colonies over the whole wotld. The responsibilities of the British Empire under this mandate system lio.il enormously increased'. Something like ei'l.t hundred thousand square miles had been added to the alreadv gigantic charge on the Empire's shoulders, a. charee. which hud been undoubtedly fulfilled in a way which won the wonder of the . whole •vorld. , The Labour Charter. l!eff<"'iing to the. Labour Conference, Mr. Lloyd George said it was a matter of most vital imnortoneo for the world's future industrial conditions. It was intended to. secure belter, and. ino'-e uniform labour conditions,' and when it was linrne in- mind that nt least .threequarters, of. the armies that won -the srreat victory w<>re drawn from the working classes of .the various nations, it was fell- Ihn'-. l-hev had won a richt lo .a corner of their own. He was glad that il wsis largely thron»h lb" initiative or Arr. Barnes that this charier was ■■"Weil to the Treat v. F» Imnrd Hint this' machinery would enable Ihe establishment of some peri'inueut means of ra ; sing Hi" level of Labour over Ihe whole world. ai"l not bniidicannioir the countries where Labour-was well treated in comoelittan i» neutrel lrarkel--.'with countries-where the conditions of Labour were'iefp'Mor. That wes l'>e great purpose of this great charter." British Empire's Share in the Victory,. The Premier proceeded to . emphasise Ihal no country lisd n greater share -iir the tremendous victory of the Allies-than Hie British F/'iipire. He-pointed out that, the. Empire had raised 7,700.000 soldiers and sailors—(loud cheers)—and had war loans tolalliiur .Cf1.M0.000,000. The j casualties of-Hie F.mnire forces totalled over three millions! not including ?aii<-,r-\ n c w' l '"'!! fifteen thousand were killed. The Navy and the mercantile marine Icept.the sea. and without them Ihe warwould have ''collapsed, in six mouths.During the last two year? of the war. • Britain, not o.nly bore the heaviest burden of the fig!htin<» in France, but the whole burden of the Attack on Turkey, which had crumbled ,to dust. (Cheers.) Tl; was a great record, and "bowed whet could be achieved by a great'people united and insntard by a common cau-e. "Let 115 rejoice." iie continued, "like men who are under no delusion that our. I roubles are nasi, and that tho spi'Jt which enabled us to overcome the. enemy will also enable 11= cheerfully to face the future. Let us not wasto our strength prematurely in fighting each other." Th» Road to Prosperity. The Premier uiosl: solemnly declared that in order lo prevent the country from sinking under its burdens and wounds, "we mu«t most effectively use the resources of Britain and the Empire a»d make all reasonable men contented.'" lie urged the peoDl.e lo support the Victory Loan. In order to reap the fruits of victory each must give such strong! l ', ••'•oil. will, and co-operation as he could The.Premier ridiculed the idea that now that peace bad come all would go without'an effort. He pointef out that Ihe output had diminished and the. cost of produclion increased. That was exactly the, opposite road, to the road Lading to pvosueritv, as even L'.e Bolsheviki in Russia had be<run io discover. Afr. Lloyd George concluded !by appealing fo" co-oneration and the maintenance nf that spirit of patriotism which alone could bring us'to a'real and glorious triumph. (Loud.rh'eers.)-Aus.-N-.Z. Cable Ass'n.R eutw. '':'.'■ • '■ TRIBUTE TO MR,; IXOyi) GEORGE . (Rec. July I; 5.5 p.m.) London, July 3." ■ In the peace debate, in Hie House of ■ Commons Mr. W..Adamson paid 11 tribute to Mr, Lloyd George's devotion to his stupendous task. The Labour Party wanted' Germany, in the League.of Nn-. . tions after sho had ratified tho Trenly.They wauled a real League, not- one beI ween (lie Allies. He expressed regret that tho Treaty did not contain machinery for the abolition of conscription. Sir Edward Carson eulogised lit. 'Lloyd George's patience, courage,' and energy in the conductor the war. History "would recognise that' he was tho mail, who, above all others.'had preserved Hid liberties of Europe. Sir Edward Carson also reciprocated Mr. Lloyd George's plan for unity. Both Bills were read a first time, amid cheers—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LORD ROBERT CECIL'S AND. CENI . ERAL SMUTS'S. SERVICES.' (Rec. July i, "9.15 p.m.) ' London, July 15. In a .statement issued from Downing Street Air. Lloyd Georgo greatly regretted having inadvertently -omitted, to refer to Lord Robert Cecil's, and General 6plendid services in framing- tho Leagua of Nations Covenant. Lord, Robert. Cecil had also rendered'-admirable serviceson the. Economic . Commission. Aus.-N.Z. Ca : ble Assn. THE. TRIAL OF WILHELM: '. A'. WELL-KEPT SECRET. . .'. (liec. July i; ft.l3"p.m.) ( . ■London, July 3. The, lobbies. considered the most striking portion of Air. Lloyd George's speech to be that dealing with the ex-Kaiser. The secret'had been well kept. It is presumed that tho trial will take,place at', the Law Courts, and that step* wilt be taken immediately to secure oxtradi-tion.-Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. .. GERMANY TO RATIFY TREATY NEXT ■ WEEK (Rec. July 4, 11.35 p.m.) ;..London, July 3... According to a Berlin wireless, message, H'err Aluller (Foreign Minister) has informed St; Clemenceau that Germany is hastening, to ratify the Treaty next week and thus benefit -by the Entente's, offer in such case to sht>ueud the block.-, nde without waiting until tho Treaty is-valid.—Aus.-K.Z. Cable Assn. TRIBUTE TO DOMINIONS' REPRESENTATIVES (Rec. .July 5,'0.25 a.m.) London, July 3. ' Speaking in the House'of Commons/'the Premier, in the course of a tribute'rendered to the Dominions' representatives, mentioned the nnmes-of Sir Robert Borden, Mr. W. Jl. Hughes, and, Sir..W.iF.. Sftßsey—(cheer!;.)—who' had participated in some of the most difficult commissions, notably the Territorial Commissions for adjusting the .extraordinarily, delicate, complex, ethical, economic, mid strategic questions which bad arisen. 51$ Lloyd George said: 'We owed a great deal lo the ability ami judgment with ivhicli they, discharged their fuuelious.'' He also paid a tribute to-the great body of experts who helped in innumerable commissions,. and whoso work has been the admiration of the foreign delegations. -Aus.SN./i. Cable Assn.-lloll.ter. , to i'reventTggrkssion TREATY PRESENTED TO HOUSE OF COMMONS. London, July 3. Tho treaty between the 'United Stales, France, - and Britain to secure France against aggression bus been presented in the House of Commons, ft dues not impose any obligations on the .Dominion* unless they are approved by. Iheir Parliaments—A ns.-N.X.. Cable Assn.