BONAR LAW REPLIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1917, Page 1

BONAR LAW REPLIES.

To W.lson’s Speech ' (Australian & N Cable Association).

LONDON, Jan. 25. Mr Bonar Law, at Bristol, replying to '"President Wilson’s speech, declared that tlio German’s so-called Peace Offer could be received by the Abies with oiily one possible reply. We believe the essence of this conflict is a question which is as old as time: namely the difference between right and wrong. We know this is a war of naked aggression ; that the crimes which accompanied the conduct of this war were unknown in the world for centuries. The crimes of all wars were small compared with tlio initial crime or plunging the world into war by coldblooded calculation, because those responsible thought it would pay our aim to coincide.

President Wilson’s effort to secure the present or future peace of the world was not right. With regard to President Wilson’s effort towards a League of Peace, it was altogether Utopian. The subject is nit an abstract question for the future, but a question or life and death now.

Proceeding, Mr Bonar Law dwelt on our past effort to render war impossible or at least to mitigate its horrors. Should Germany in a wholesale way violate the convention and her pledges thcreanent no neutral Power would o» abe to stop that.

No neutral Power, indeed, protested against Germany at the outset, we must take other means to secure tlio future peace of the world. We rejected German jrjflgotiations and offer, because a peace now would mean a peace based on a German victory. It would leave her military machine unbroken, with a halo of success surrounding it. The controllers of that machine would rc-propare for war, choosing a convenient time to begin. What President Wilson is longing for we are fighting for, our menfolk aro risking their lives for, and we mean to secure it.