PEACE AIMS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1918, Page 2

PEACE AIMS

RON. LLOYD GEORGE. DELINEATES 'AT.T.I ES’ ATTITUDE. A CLEAR DEFINITION. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

& ItOTTEB.] (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 5. Hon. Lloyd George made an important. statement to-day on behalf of tho Government on war aims, before the Trade Unions’ Delegates at West-

I minister, who ore at present considering the question of man-power. He began by saying that when the Government invite organised labour to further assist to maintain and strengthen the armies in the field, its representatives were entitled to ask that any misgivings regarding the purpose wherefore this precious strength was to bo applied, shoidd definitely be clear. This also was true of all citizens of the country, when millions were being called to suffer and die, and vast populations were subjected to sufferings and privations unprecedented in history. They were entitled to know the causes wherefore they were making the sacrifices. Only the clearest and greatest justice of causes could justify the continuance, even for one day, of this unspeakable agony of nations. We bad arrived at the most critical hour of the terrible conflict. Before any government makes the fateful decision regarding the conditions whereunder it- ought either to terminate or continue the struggle, “it ought to satisfy the conscience of the nation, therefore durum; the last few days he had taken special pains to ascertain tile views and attitude of representative men of all sections of thought and opinion in the country. He had perused in detail, with tho Labour leaders, the meaning and intention of that declaration, and also discussed tho same momentous question with Mr Asquith, Viscount Grey, and representatives of the groat dominions overseas.

Tito result of these discussions was n natural agreement in. regards to the character and purpose of war aims and peace conditions, and in what he was about to say he was speaking not merely the mind of the Government, hut the Nation and Empire as a whole. He would commence by stating what we are fighting for.

Wo are not fighting a war of aggression against tho German people. The destruction or disruption of Germany, or the German people has never been one of our war aims. Most reluctantly, and quite unprepared for tho dreadful ordeal we were forced into the war in self-defence, and defence of tho violated public law of

Europe, and the vindication of the j solemnest treaty obligations, whereon \ ~the public system of Europe rested, -> and whereon Germany had ruthlessly trampled, in the invasion of Belgium. We had to join in the struggle, or see brute force triumph over public right and international justice.

OUTLINING THE POSITION.

* LONDON, Jan. r,. Hon Lloyd George, continuing, said only the realisation of the dreadful alternative forced Britain into the war. From that original attitude, Britain has never swerved. It is not our wish to question or destroy tile great position Germany held in the world, but rather to turn her from the hopes and schemes of military domination, and see. her devote all her strength to the great beneficent tasks of the world. We are not fighting to destroy (Austria-Hungary, or to deprive Turkey of Constantinople, or the rich unowned lands of Asia Minor and Thrace, • which predominately are Turkish racially, nor did wo war pierely to alter or destroy the Imperial constitution of Germany, much as wo consider that military autocratic constitution a dangerous anarchronism in the twentieth century. Our view point is that the. adopt ion of a really democratic constitution by Germany would bo most- convincing

ovidoncc that her hold of the spirit of A military domination did make it much ' easier to conclude a broad democratic peace with her, but that is a question for the G ermnn people to decide. Despite many adjurations from opponents and neutrals, the Central Empires maintain a. complete silence on the objects wherefore they have uni/formly declined to give any trust-

worthy information, even upon the crucial matter as to the intention in regard to Belgium.

The only clear thing, in the vague reports of the recent enemy peace con. ditions, was that under no circumstances would the German demand for the restoration of her colonies be given up.

All principles of self-determination here Vanish in thin tiir. There is more lip service to the formula, ‘‘No annexations, indemnities, ,or the right of self determination.” >

It is urgent before any negotiations can be begun that the Central Powers must realise the essential facts of the situation. The days of the “Treaty of Vienna” are long past. Wo cannot longer submit the future of Europe and' civilisation to’ the arbitary decisions of a few negotiators striving to secure, by chicanery, or persuasion, an interest in this or that dynasty or nation.

The settlement of the new Europe must be based on such grounds of reason and justice as will give some promise of stability.

Therefore, we feel that Government with the consent of the governed must he the basis of any territorial settlement after the war.

REPARATION FOR. BELGIUM

RESTORATION OF OTHER. STATES

LONDON, Jan. f>th Hon. Lloyd George continuing said unless every nation is prepared, whatever the sacrifices to honour the national signature it is obvious that no peace treaty is worth the paper, whereon it is written. Therefore, the requirement of Britain and the Allies, is the complete restoration of political, territorial and omnomie independence of Belgium, anj such reparation as can he made for the devastation of Us towns and provinces. This is not a demand for a war indemnity like that imposed in 187il, and is not an attempt to shift the cost of warlike operations from one belligerent to another, which may or may not be defensible. It is no less than an insistence that before there can bo any hope of a stable peace, this great breach of the public law of Europe must be repudiated, and as? far as possible, repaired. Reparation means recognition, and unless international rights are recognised by insistence on payment for injury done in defiance of its canons, it can never be a reality. Next comes the restoration of Serbia and Montenegro, and occupied parts of Franco, Italy and Roumania. The complete withdrawal of alien armies and reparation for injustice done is a fundamental condition of a permanent peace.

We mean to stand by French democracy to the death on the demand they make for reconsideration of the great wrong of 1871, when without any regard to the wishes of the population two French provinces Were torn from France and incorporated in the German Empire.! This sort of peace poisoned Europe for half a century, and until it is recreated, healthy conditions cannot he restored. There can not be a better illustration of what follows the wickedness of a transient military success to violate the national right. I will not attempt, to dpnl with the question of Russian territories under German occupation. The Russian pol-

icy since the revolution, has passed through so many phases, that it is diffi- ■ cult to speak without some suspension of judgment as regards what the situation will he, when the final European peace terms are discussed. Russia accepted the war, because she was true to her traditional guardianship of the weaken communities of her race. She stepped in to protect Serbia from a plot agains her independence. • France, true to treaty conditions stood by all, in a quarrel not her own, with chivalrous respects for the treaty. This led to the wanton invasion of Belgium and the treaty obligations of Britain to that little land, brought us into the war.

Hon. Lloyd George continued that the present rulers of Russia are now engaged without any reference to the countrios whom the Duma brought into the war, in separate negotiations with the common enemy. I am indulging in no reproaches, but merely stating the facts, with a view to making, it clear w hy Britain cannot be held accountable

for the decisions taken, in her absence concerning which was not consult ed or her aid invoked. None who knows Prussia and her do sign s upon Russia can for a niomenl doubt her ultimate intention, wliatevei phrases she rises to, to delude Russia. She does not mean to surrender to Russia the fair provinces or cities now occupied by her forces under one name or another, and the name hardly matters. Theses provinces henceforth in reality will he part of the dominions of Prussia ruled by the Prussian sword, in the interests of Prussian autocracy. The remainder of the people of Russia will partly he enticed by specious phases, and partly bullied liy threat against continuing the war against their important army, into conditions of complete economic, and ultimate political enslavement of Germany. We all deplore the prospect .British democracy means to stand to the last by the democracies of other Allies. We shall lie proud to fight to the end, side by side, with the hew democracy of Russia. So will America, France and Italy, hilt if the present rulers of Russia take action independent of the Allies, wo have no means of intervening

to arrest tne eauisiropne mat assuredly is befalling Russia. She can only he saved by her own people. However, w© believe the independence of Poland comprising all generally Polish elements who desire to form part, i s an urgent necessity of the stability of western En.‘ope. Similarly though wo agree with President Wilson that to break up AustriaHungary is no part of our war aims, we feel that, unless a genuine, truly domoeratie self-government is granted, to those Austro-Hungarians nationalities who have long desired it, it is impossible to remove the causes of unrest in that parts of Europe which for so long has threatened the general peace. On the same grounds, we regard ns vital, the satisfaction of the. legitimate claims of the Italians, for a union of i hose of their own race and tongueWe also moan to press for justice to th<> men of Roumanian blood and speech in their legitimate aspiration. Jf these conditions are fulfilled Austria-Hungary would become a power and strength to conduct the permanent freedom of Europe', instead of being merely an instrument of the pernicious miilitary autocracy of Prussia, that uses the resources of all its Allies for the futhernnce of its own sinister purposes. Wo believe outside of Europe, the same principles should apply.

TURKEY’S FUTURE

THAT OF THE COLONIES

AND OF ARABIA AND ARMENIA

Received. this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, Jan-. 5

Hon. Lloyd George added, that while we don’t challenge the maintenance of the Turkish! Empire in the homelands of the Turkish race, with the capital at Constantinople now passing between the Mediterranean and the Black Sen being internationalised and neutralised. Arabia, Armenia and Mesopotamia are in our judgment entitled to recognition. Their separate, national conditions exact a form of such recognition. Each particular case need not here ho discussed beyond stating that it is impossible to restore these terditories to former sovereignty. tf

Regarding the German colonies, J have, repeatedly declared that they were held for disposal by a conference whose decision must have primary regard to the wishes and interest of the native inhabitants. None of those territories are inhabited by Europeans, therefore the governing consideration in all these eases must, be that the inhabitants should be placed under a control and administration acceptable to themselves, one whose main purposes will be to prevent exploration for the benefit of European capitalists or governments. The natives should .live i*! ifJlicir various tribal organisations under chiefs and councils who would bo competent to consult and speak for their tribes, and thus represent tliejr wishes and interests, regarding their disposal. ’Die general principle of national self-determination, therefore, was as applicable in their eases as those of the occupied European territories.

The German deelaraion that the natives of the German colonies have through their military fidelity in the war, shown their attachment to and resolve under the circumstances to remain with Germnnv, are applicable, but only one of them; merely German East and if till at is the ease and the German authorities have secured the attachment not of the native population jais a whole, which remains pTofoundedily antiGerman. but only of the smgjll warlike classes, from who their nskaris or soldiersare selected, and these they attached to themselves by conferring high lv privileged posts as against the hulk of the native population which enabled the askaris to assume a lordly oppressive superiority over the rest, of the natives. By this and other means they secured the attachment of small insignificant minority, whose interests are directly opposed to the rest of the population for whom they have no right, to speak. The German treatment of the native population of their colonies, is such as amply justified their fear of submitting the future, of those colonies to the wishes of the natives themselves

WHAT THE EMPIRE WANTS. AND IS PREPARED TO Elf HIT for. LONDON January 6. Hon Lloyd George continued—Finally there must be reparation for the injuries done by the violation of international law. The Peace Conference must not forget our seamen/‘and the services they have rendered, and the outrages they have suffored for the common cause of freedom. Hon. Lloyd George raid he regarded U as especially regrettable, that the recently reported proposals of the Central Powers contained no reference to a permanent peace after the war. It is desirable, indeed it is essential, that the post-war settlement shall not contain the seed of a future war, hut that’s not enough. However wisely and well wo make the territorial and other arrangements, there we will still remain many subjects of international controversy and economic conditions after the war that will be to the diversion of human effort to the war.

There must follow a world shortage of rnjw materials whwh will increase i the longer the war lasts, ft is inevr- - table that the countries controlling raw t materials desire to •help themselves ' and their friends first. Aloreovoi., . whatever settlement is made will he > suitable only to the circumstances where-under it is made, and as circum- , stances change, changes in the settlement will be necessary as long ns the I possibility of a dispute between the na- j Vons continues. In other words as j • long as men and women are dominatj in,, hv passion and ambition, war is j the only means of settling the dispute j AH nations must live under the burj don not only of having to engage in t.ar time after time but in being compelled to prepare for a possible outbreak. with the crushing weight of modern armaments and the increasing evil of compulsory military service, and vast waste of wealth. 'Efforts that involve a warlike preparation like these are blots on our civilisation, of which every individual must be ashamed. ( For those, and similar reasons we

are confident a great attempt must ho made to establish, by some international organisation an alternative to war as a means of settling international disputes. After all, war is a relic of barbarism and just as law succeeded violence in individual disputes so we believe it is destined ultimately to replace- war in the settlement of eontrover sic* between lifitions. If then ,\vo are asked wliflt we ait*, fighting' for, we reply as we have often replied—for a great and lasting peace, and we believe before nonce can bo hoped for, the conditions that must be fulfilled “arc: Firstly—The sanctity of treaties must ho sought by the creation of some international organisation to limit the burden of armaments and dimmish the probability of war. On those conditions the British Fmpi re would welcome peace. To secure these conditions our peoples are prepared to make even n greater sacrifice that they had yet oudnred.

PRESS COMMENT. OF UNEXPECTED SCOPE. (Received. This Da.v at 8.50. a.mA LONDON January 6. j The newspaper agree that Hon Llovd George’s speech is momentous and his torical. They describe iij- as unexpected in scope and immediate gravity, as viewed from the stand-point of the choice, presented between the possibility of a settlement and a war protracted and redoubled, now that the Allies irreduc ible minimum is distinctly defined. -The onus is put on the enemy. There must now be an answer from Berlin, which cannot fail to-liave a far-reaching effect on the world’s whole future. .EFFECTIVE COUNTER STROKE. (Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK. January G. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent states there is a concensus' of opinion that Hon. Lloyd George’s speech is the most effective counter stroke to M. Czernin but does not add to the previous utterances and does not bring peace nearer. The. speech may be followed by similar statements from France, Italy and America