Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26th. 1917. PACIFIC TALK.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26th. 1917. PACIFIC TALK.

From now on we are going to hoar a great deal about peace talk. Tho Central Powers can realise what is ahead of thorn .as readily as the Entente Powers can see that the war has entered on its last big stage. 'Hie enemy is making giant efforts to keep up appearances of the victory on land and sea which has been claimed in order that should a peace conference result from -all the pacific talk, the enemy will have some standing of moment, • because of the temporary advantage held. Thus we have the belated, marine offensive against Russia,

the final fling of.the discredited Zeppelins to recover lost reputation, and if chance favoured, to score some advantage; the bitterness of tho •ountprattacks o n the West; and the submarine ruthlessness, and marauding tactics of raiding ships. AVhile pursuing those aids to appearances in the various seats of war, tho enemy agents are busy in every part) of the globe instigating peace overtures or one sort or another. The speech may he that of an ally or friendly neutral, but the voice is ever the voice of Germany intimating terms of a settlement) which while they do not indicate actual victory for the enemy, certainly do not- carry tho stigma of defeat. But above all this pacific talk and intrigue sounds the iclarion voice of the Prime Minister of Britain, who cnee again has declared with all the powers of his convincing oratory, that the Allies will not have peace at any price, and no peace at all which d->*-s not impose upon the enemy the to tal annihilation of its military are ijnnee and power, so that for all time there may not bo war. Recent events all emphasise that the three principal Powers of Llm Entente- —Britain, Franco and America—can never submit to a premature peace which would fall short of extinguishing the military aspirations of Germany, so that for ever her talons ever ready to inflict evil, will be clipped. Tho recent examples of Germany’s continued ruthlessness are quite sufficient themselves to decide the main parties in the conduct of the war. that a peace with such an enemy would he empty indeed, unless it is’imposed by the! might and right of victory. Germany will submit only to might, and will brook no interference where she has power to enforce her demands. That is the history of tho war since August three years ago, when she tore tip treaty rights and privileges, nn ( ] ruthlessly invaded Belgium. From that- crowded eventful time onward, whenever Germany has had tho power to inflict a wrong that she herself might step to victory, she has never hesitated to perpetrate the wrong, cruel and heartless though it he. She has not feared the record of history, believing in her own aiTOganee that she had sufficient might and power behind her to ignore history itself, and to set- her own standard of morals and internatioual probity. The world will never bo safe with such a power at large free to wreck What she may to satisfy her own grasping whim s for dominion. It is because of this that Mr. Lloyo George’s declaration rings so true, and gives assurance that there can ho no peace without that degree of victory which will mean, the extinguishment of the military power of Germany.