HON LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1917, Page 1

HON LLOYD GEORGE.

FURTfIEII COMMENT. TaUSTKALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] ' LONDON December 20. lion Lloyd George continued that : Some people said that these were only mere side shows'. Iho British Empire,owed a good deal to side shows. Despite the fact that the Germans were able to use the East front as a rest cure for their broken regiment, they had only one success due to the surprise, which was now the subject of -an enquiry. The Germans had lost over 1(1,000 prisoners and hundreds of guns and valuable ground. Despite our very conspicuous victories in Flanders and France the campaign on the whole had not. achieved expectations.

One great event of the year was the advent of America into the world polities. Another memorable event was the creation of an international Council at Versailles, thus setting up for the first time the machinery of a League of Nations. The Council would have a greater effect on international relatioiwT than anyone now imagined So far it nad been a conspicuous success. Itself free from friction, it had helped to remove friction. Undoubtedly the situation had become more menacing owing to the unexpected defeat of Italy and secondly, to the Russian armistice. The AngloFrench forces had been sent to Italy’s rescue with a celerity which greatly, surprised the enemy. If our troops bad not arrived with such remarkable rapidity one could not have guaranteed what would have happened. Their advent had not only strengthened Italy’s arms but bad helped' Italy's morale to such a degree that the troops scattered ill Northern Italy volun leered to return to the ranks,

A DIFFICULT POSITION

NOT WITHOUT GOOD POINTS,

LONDON December 21

Hon. Lloyd George continued. —The Anglo-French assistance rendered was a triumph of organisation. The Italian situation was now largely restored but the defeat had made the military jjosition more anxious for the- AngloFrench directors making a great drain on the man power.

Russia had been quiescent for the past few months hut though nominally warring, had been keeping considerable Austro-German forces on the east front. Tile armistice had altered the situation, although it was true the armistice imposed on Germapy an.obligation not fo remove troops. We had heard of ‘‘scraps of paper,” and the country now reiving on Germans keeping that obligation, was a country which had not profited by experience of the facts, had cast fresh obligations on the other Allies. It was absolutely necessary for Britain to make great sacrifices to strengthen tile Army in the coming year, with a view to increasing the supply of men for the army. If necessary _ they would ask trade unions to consent to an alteration of the pledges given, __ owing to the changed conditions putting a greater demand on the nations man power This stop was ina'voidablc, boetvuse they must draw upon the reserve men power, rather than send back to the front men badly wounded which would . be unfair.,and intolerable, while men stayed at home, who had never gone to fight. Government a iso wanted to meet the needs of shipbuilding and agriculture. Sir Auckland' Geddos would next week explain,! tile position to trade unions, and Government, 'immediately after the adjournment proposed to ask for powers to raiscj.thc men required. The riekt few. months would be the most trying of the war, heeau.se one great Power was practically gone out, and another great Power was not. fully., in . Our burden would he great, but we must not imagine the enemy lias no difficulties.

The physical quality of German workers hail | so detonated that their outpost was!} thirty 'three per cent less than in 1914. 1 Germany was using up her reserve maiv/ipower in France. She. had lost heavily, the Italian loss was comparable with those of Austria, while the British losses were only a quarter or a fifth of Germany’s permanent losses. The Allies reserve man power was more than double the reserve of all tile enemy.

THE PEACE AIMS. LONDON, Dec. 21

Hon. Lloyd George continued.—Time and tonnage only were required, and the enemy knew it. Lloyd George proceeded -that a great ideal had been made of the complaint that Government had not fully stated war aims. Fie would repent the points of his Glasgow speech and ask his critics if they challenge any of them.

jrjj-st—A complete restoration of the torritorities Germany had conquered, with reparation for damage. It Russia decided to enter Into separate negotiations. she must look after her own territories. Her action also disposed of the question of Constantinople. Second.—The question of Mesopotamia must be left to the Peace Congress, provided Mesopotamia and Armenia were never again subjected to the blighting, blasting influence of the Turks.

Third—A point the great international peace congress must settle was tho question of German colonics, having regard to the wishes and interests ot the inhabitants.

He stood by that principle which, ho had already laid down, that the Congress to settle all these questions upon the principle respecting the desires and sentiments of the people thomsolvs of .confidence which German rule inspired, and whether the colonists desire, their former masters or to entrust tbem-

selves to others. Tho wishes of the people themselves must be a dominant feature in settling the future Government. We conquered no country wherein the population belonged to the ruling race.