AN AMERICAN LUNCHEON.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1917, Page 2

AN AMERICAN LUNCHEON.

To Hon Lloyd Gsorge. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter), (Received April 13, at 9.55 a.m.) London, April 1£ Mr Page, presiding at the Ametican luncheon to Hon Lloyd Geooge, at the Savoy, proposed his health and said that America wes coming to the Oil World to answer a duties call and succour democracy. The foremost consequences would be a bettor underBtaudicg of the free people of Eurcpe and America.

Hen Lloyd George replying, said he was proud to be tbe first British Premier to welcome the Americans as comrades in arms. He rejoiced at America’s advent into the war, be. cause it finally stamped the war as a straggle for human liberty, against mililary autocracy, aud because it would have been a tragedy if America did not sit at the Peace Conference. The Kaiser had promised Prussia that there would ba a democracy after the war. I think he is right. (Cheers). Hon Lloyd Gaoiga continuedGeneral Hindenburg relies on England becoming helpless before America has time to get ready, or on America having ships for transport. We now have an absolute assurance that our victory is summed tip “more ship*.’’

WKAT GERMANY WANTSBut Can Slia Get It? (Received April 13 at 9,10 a.m,) London, April 12 Lloyd George, at the Amerioan luncheon, welcomed America’s intervention as stamping the war as a struggle for freedom. The Kaiser imagined he was tbe world’s law giver.

(Received April 13, at 10.40 a.m.) London, April 12 Hon Lloyd George said the Prussian ideal at the present amounts simply to constituting an army and intimidating the world. The -Kaiser, intoxi cated by Prussianism, delivers the law to the world as if Potsdam was the New Sinai, and he was uttering tbe law from thunderclouds.

Two facts clinched ths argument of this struggle for freedom, America’s advent and the Russian revolution. If the Russians realised, as apparently they were domg, that national discipline was compatible with and essential to national freedom, ( they would become a free people. General Hindenburg had recently disclosed the real reason why Germany had provoked America, aud showed he was relying on one of two things— Either the submarines would so destroy shipping that England would be pnt out; of action before America was ready, or when America is ready, there would be no ships to transport the Army.

Hindenburg has drawn a “no thorotghfare ” line across the Allies territories The Allies must make a similar line at Germany’s legitimate frontiers.

THE HINDENBURG LlNEits Proper Place(Received April 13, at 11 a.m.) London, April 12 Hon Lloyd George continued—lt behove? the Empire, ani America principally, to make General Hindenburg’s reckoning as false as his computation regarding the vaunted line, which we had already broken. What i? Hindenburg’s line. It means a line across other people's territories, with a warning that the inhabitants should only cross at the peril of their lives. Europe, after enduring this for many a generation, had now made up its mind that the Hindenburg line must be drawn acroßS the legitimate frontiers of Germany herself, The audience rose up and for several moments there was loud cheering. Hon Lloyd George continued— America’s advent mount that the Hindenburg line must not be drawn across American shores. Its proper place was on the Rhine.

Strange Happenings

(Received April 13, at 12.50 p.m.) London, April 12 Hon Lloyd George said the Peace Conference will settle the destiny of nations and th« course of. human life for countless years, I sea that the Peace Conference will now give a real peace, which would never know the p f r'ioge things that had happened in this war.

Stranger things were coming and rapidly. Six weeks ago Russia wag an autocracy and now it is one of tbe most advanced democracies in the world.

To-day we are waging the most devastating war in history. To-morrow, Or perhaps, in a not distant to-mor-row, war may bs abolished from tha category of human crime.

SURE OF VICTORY. Pf Dawn of a Perfect Day. „ (Received April 13, at 11 15 a.m) London, April 12 Hon Lloyd George said he had an absolute ossaraoce of victory. He baa found in the one word “ ships ” that the German military advisers must already be re Using it. This constitutes auother tragic misoalaul it'on that is going to Lad them to disaster and min. He tributed the assistance that America had already rendered the Allies. America would not only wage £ successful war, but would also ensure a bsnsfieienfc peace. He concluded—The British advance • on E tater Monday began at dawn. It was work fit for dawn, for our gallant soldiers are the hocaldj of the dawn, and the Allies will soon emerge in the full radiance of a perfect day. German Appointment Amsterdam, April 12 General Yon Sublayer has been appointed Interior War Minister, succeeding KroOatfeir?. Austria Wants Peace (Received April 13, at 9.10 a.m.) Rome, April 12 According to Vatican reports Austria is pressing for peace. Austrian Unrest • Amsterdam, April 12 The Franz trial disclosures are causing popular unr?sfc and also indignation and discontent in financial oircle?. Whan the Hungarian Parliament reassemble i .it will disease the trial and abo suffrage reform. The Vosaicbe Zeitung’a Vienna • correspondent gays Austria’s political atmosphere, created by past absolutism, needs a thorough oleansing. German Riots Amsterdam, April 12 Dutch frontier reports state there was renewed fighting at Barmen and Elberford, Shops were damaged and the town hall windows smashed. The Vorwaerts says the new regulation that becomes operative on the 15tb, reducing the bread rations, is Oausirg increasing tension. It urges patience till the harvest. Uopra Shortage Copenhagen, April 12 • The oil mill at Aarhus, which supplies all the great Danish margerine factories, may bo compelled to close unless they receive early supplies of copra. A Foolish Monarch Berne, April 12 Correspondence discovered at the ■Czar's Palace shows the members of European Royal families lately urged him to accept the popular demands for constitutional reforms, in the interests of tbe Allied cause. Th 9 Czar’s response was not cordial.