HISTORIC SPEECHES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 338, 12 November 1915, Page 3

HISTORIC SPEECHES.

THE WAR REVIEWED. ME. BALFOUR’S SPEECH. ENEMY ON THE ÜBB TIDE. FLOOD TIDE WITH THE ALLIES. LONDON, Nov. 10. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s banquet, Mr. Balfour said it was superflous to praise the armies which the genius of Lord Kitchener had raised. They were daily adding to their laurels and their numbers. What they had done was a small earnest of what they werc destined to accomplish. Regarding the future, Mr. Balfour declined to assume the character of a prophet. Perhaps when the historian looked back on the war he would be inclined to say that there was no moment when the calculations of the Central Powers were near accomplishment. The first spring, which might have ben fata*, had been utterly foiled. It was many months since the enemy in the wes? claimed anything like a success, ano two months since their temporary advance into Russia reached its highwater mark. There now appeared to be a pause. This meant that the tide o» the enemy’s successes had reached the limit. They had to look forward to the ebb—fast or slow, but an ebb a:> the same. Bulgaria’s betrayal of all her traditions was a triumph for German diplomacy. The rulers were animated simply by motives of greed and fear. No diplomacy of the Allies coulo have outweighed the simple fact that the rulers thought Germany and Austria were the horses they would back. Some day they would regret their miscalculations. In one respect Britain was blameworthy. A section of the press forgot that articles published wore read far beyond the limits or these islands by peoples unaccustomed to our modes of thought and our ways of treating national emergencies. Mr. Balfour continued: The British always take a gloomy joy in self-depreciation, but domestic criticism circulated in Germany and neutral countries is apt to prove that we are adngerously misusing the powers of the press. If punlie utterances raise up new enemies, the pouring out of blood will be increased, the sacrifices of the war extended, and strength added to onr enemies which all our victories will mak> it hard to overcome. I cannot tell whether the war will be short or long, whether it will be decided in the east, the west, or the south; but seeing that the Alllies’ strength is growing daily, and the strain put on our enemies is becoming intolerable, I feel entitled to look forward with serene confidence to the future, in which the noble sacrifices of the Army and Navy will find immortal reward.

1 threads of our varied activities, and gradually but thoroughly woven them to a degree unknown before, into a single web. Our whole life has taken [ a new an( 3 Sober colour under the subj duing consciousness of great issues ! overshadowing the presence of sorrow. We were confronted with a great, searching test a year ago, and we chose the harder but better course. We staked everything upon our choice. I am still sure that we chos*. rightly, and that we shall win. Referring to the censorship, he said it was a ridiculous travesty of a noble watchword to talk of the freedom of the press.

In connection with the action over the Glove, and referring to Lord Kitchener’s mission, Mr. Asquith said it was the result of the Cabinet’s decision on Thursday. Lord Kitchener, when in Paris, engaged in fruitful consultation with the new French Government, and thence proceeded on his mission. Amid prolonged laughter Mr. Asquith said: No doubt I shall be accused of hoodwinking the nation, but I decline to mention the destination to which Lord Kitchener has gone; but we hope and trust it will only be for a very short time. He has gone to survey at close quarters the whole of the situation. He carries the complete confidence of the Allies and his own countrymen, and takes the authority of a great soldier-administrator with special facilities for insight and judgment which he derives from unrivalled knowledge and experience in the b’ecr East.

Reviewing 1 the situation in Servia, Mr. Asquith said that all were watching with sympathy the gallant struggle by the army and people, who were upholding their national independence and the permanent interests of the Balkan peoples, despite the shortsighted hostility of one of their neighbours, and the lamentable hesitation of another. There was a plentiful crop of criticism regarding the Allies’ diplomacy and strategy, but when the time comes for the- full disclosure of the conditions, the statesmen a,nd generals of the Allied Powers will have no reason to shrink from the verdict of an impartial tribunal. Whatever the mistakes and shortcomings of France, Russia, Italy, and ourselves, tve are resolutely determined to secure for Servia the future which her heroism and sacrifices so well deserve. After a tribute to the Italian army, Air. Asquith emphasised the unity of the Allies. “They will stand or fall together.” Insaid. “All the stories which the enemy have circulated regarding piecemeal arrangements for a one-sided peace are only idle, worthless chatter. By reading the newspapers and listening to the debates of the august assemblies to which I do not belong, one might think the conduct of the war has been an unbroken series of follies and blunders. This is not the judgment of the people of the Empire, our Allies, or the judgment of our enemies. The objects of our arms are exactly the same as I defined in the Guildhall a year ago. We will pursue them with nr,diminished faith. I believe we have advanced a, long way towards tin achievement. Be the journey long o' short, we will not pause or falter until

we have secured for the smaller European States the character of independence and fci Europe and the world at large final emancipation from the reign of force. ”