DEBATE IN COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1918, Page 4

DEBATE IN COMMONS.

[PEH PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT. J

LONDON, October 25.

In the House of Commons there was an exciting discussion in which Lord Milner’ attitude towards Germany came up prominently. It began by Major Davies .calling the attention of the Government to an interview which Lord Milner had given to the “London Evening Standard,” in which he referred to the internal condition of Germany and its relation to peace. Major Davies stated that critics generally objected to Lord Milner’s opinion. This was so in the case of his opinion “that a complete transformation of the govern mental system was already in progress in Germany.” Lord Milner continued: “Wo don’t wish to see Bolshevism there.” He had also denied that militarism was popular in Germany, and added: “The change in the political system cannot be made until the German armies had finally 'been beaten. Such reforms should be left to the German people themselves in accordance with the principle of self-determination and meanwhile the whole energy of the Allies should be concentrated on the defeat of the German Army.”

Major Davies ,said that Lord Milner’s sentiments aroused profound misgivings among tTie Allies. Mr .Tohn Dillon (Nationalist Leader), followed. He complained of the Government’s action in not making a statement of its attitude regarding peace. Lord Milner’s interview, he said, ran counter to President Wilson’s conditions of peace, and especially so when the Lord Milner said that it would be unwise for the Allies to make it one of the conditions of peace that Germany should cluange the personnel or the form of the Government.

Mr Dillon strongly criticised Mr Balfour’s speech wherein he stated that Britain was not going to return to Germany her colonies. To put this forward he said as the only official expression of British policy, rendered us absolutely contemptible in the face of our Allies. Mr Pringle followed Ur Dillon and spoke on similar lines. Sir G. Cave replied on behalf of the Government, and strongly deprecated the discussion at present. Communications of intense moment were passing between the Governments of the enemy and those of other powers. Public discussion upon peace would therefore be Wrong.

Mr Balfour said he had only dealt publicly with the matter of the German colonies merely because he thought it in the public interest to make matters clear. Mr Bouar Law, he added, had publicly said the same thing several times .