THE PEACE DEBATE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 255, 23 July 1919, Page 7

THE PEACE DEBATE

SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE OF

COMMONS

THE PUNISHMENT OF GERMANY

Bj Telograph-Presa Association-Copyrlcht (ltec. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 21. During the peace debato, Sir Donald Maclean paid a warm tribute to Mr Lloyd George's skill, energy, and indomitable optimism at the Peace Conference. • He feared that unless trade with Germany revived she would be unable to repair the damage she had done. lie unhesitatingly supported tho trial of tho ex-lvaiser, but disagreed with the conducting of the trial in London. A neutral country was preferable. The British people did not want a Roman triumph. Mr. J. 1?-. dynes said there was a feeling amongst tho working classes that Germany should be admitted to the League of Nations at tho earliest moment. Germany's crimes were colossal, but there was a fear that the . punishment of certain sections would bo too severe. Tho Labour Party was anxious that there should be no excesses. Regarding the standards of self-determina-tion, he said that we did not want an. other Alsace-Lorraine. The Government's attitude on tho conscription ques. tion was causing suspicion and distrust.

Mr. J. A. Seddon, Labour member Hanley, said there was no 6ign that Germany had repented, and her early admission to the League was impossible. Lord Kobert Cecil commented on the indeterminate amount of tho reparation. Mr. Joseph Devlin urged Ireland's claim for self-determination. It was no longer a domestic matter, but a world question. Mr. Horatio Bottomley moved an amendment regretting the absence of a definite obligation on Germany to compensate Britain's total war losses. Mr. Devlin renewed tho debate on the Ratification Bill in the early hours of the morning, moving its rejection on the third reading as' a protest against Mr. l.lovd George's appeal to Irishmen to realise 'that 'Ireland is not a composite nation. "There can.be no peace," said Mr. Devlin, "until the Irish question is settled."

Mr. Lloyd George ridiculed the idea that he had taken up a new attitude. The Nationalists might have self-govern-ment, but they must not force it upon Ulster.

The motion was rejected by 163 votes to 4.

After Mr. Lloyd George's speech the amendment was negatived, and the_ Ratification Bill was read a second, time — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ANGLO-FRENCH TREATY BILL

(Rec. July 23, 1.30 a.m.)

London, July 22. " The House of Commons has passed the Antrlo-French Treatey Bill.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.