FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE
THE ANGLO-FRENCH-AMERICAN ' 'AGREEMENT THE VITAL NECESSITY OF PREVENTING WAR (By Telegraph-Press Associtttiou-Gopyrlelit (Rec; December 21, 7.30 p.m.) London, December IS. In tho House of Commons. Jlr. Lloyd George, in ;i speech during-" the dcbalo on Foreign, Affairs, denied suggestions of secret diplomacy during or since tho Peace Conference. JJe emphasised tho wisdom of reticence regarding the deli-' cafip situation in the Adriatic, where tho Italian Government was faced with the greatest difficulties. As regards the Anglo-French-American agreement, Britain was undoubtedly free to reconsider the decision if the United States failed to ratify'it, but it was not contemplated that the United States would dishonour its great representative's signature at Paris. It would be a mistake to discuss tho subject on a supposition of that kind. "I have no reason to suppose that the United States will not agree to' tho Treaty." Mi,'. Lloyd .George, continuing, said that tho situation in Uussia wasa frightful morass, .where neither Britain, France, nor Italy was undertaking further responsibility beyond the first-named's promise of seventeen million pounds' worth of material to the auti-Bolshcviki. The American and Japanese Governments wore discussing tho question with a view to action in Siberia if the Bolsheviki progresed much further eastwards. It was impossible to make peaco with Russia, because the country had no Government able to speak for the whole people. If the Bolsheviki claimed to speak for Russia, let them summon a freely-elected National Assembly. Deliberations at Downing Street hod resulted in the conclusion .that it was only possible to watch tho situation vigilantly, and to'make peace immediately Russia emerged from the darkness and some steady form of government was established. ' The Premier referred to the not inconsiderable assistance .already given to Austria, but said that this was admittedly inadequate. England could, not undertake) ■ the whole task. V/e had been asked to help in all directions be? causo of our reputation for readiness to respond to appeals, but we could not carry burdens beyond our strength. Tho only remedy wqs for America to firmly participate, along with Britain and France. Britain must rehabilitate herself. The wholo future of the civilisation of the world depended on this. Wo waited to the very limit for America to show a disposition to participate in the guardianship 'of Christian communities before concluding the Peaco Treaty with Turkey, liufc he now considered we Ttero entitled to make such peace at the earliest possible moment, and we proposed to do so. Preliminary discussions would bo resumed in a few days, cither in London or Paris. Tho Government had done its utmost to further tho League of Nations, and ho was convinced that this country at ,any rate, must continue therewith. If discoveries made almost at the end of the war had been employed unparalloled horrors' would have resulted. It was vital to the world to havo a civilised means of preventing the making of war with such additional terrors, He concluded with an optimistic note on tho 6igns of steady recuperation of British trade ' and finance— Cable Assn.-Reuter. '.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 78, 27 December 1919, Page 7
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506FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 78, 27 December 1919, Page 7
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