Second Edition. Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 68, 23 March 1915, Page 6

Second Edition. Great Britain

"THE WAR MIGHT HAVE BEEN 1 AVOIDED." THE QUESTION OF A CONFERENCE, • United Press Association. (Received 2.35 p.m.) London, March 22. Sir Edward Grey said the war might have been avoided by a conference to be held wherever and in whatever form Germany wished. France, Italy, and Russia agreed to a conference, and the dispute would have been far easier settled than the Balkan crisis. Germany knew from her experience at the Balkan conference in London that she could count on our goodwill. We sought no diplomatic triumph and participated in no intrigue in 1913, and we were prepared to do the same last July. SIR EDWARD GREY’S SPEECH. THE ALLIES’ IDEAL. (Received 1.25 p.m.) London, March 22. Sir Edward Grey, continuing, said: "We had given Germany every assurance that we would not support aggression against her, and only withheld an unconditional promise to stand aside if Germany were the aggressor. Germany refused all proposals for settlement, and must bear the responsibility of the war. We now know that the German Government was prepared for war, as they are the only people who can plan and prepare. This is the fourth time in living memory that Prussia had made war, and we are determined it shall be the last. The Allies’ ideal was that the nations of Europe should be free to work out their own national development, with full liberty whether they be great or small states.”