“STAMMER AND STUTTER."

Taihape Daily Times, 18 October 1917, Page 3

“STAMMER AND STUTTER."

LLOYD GEORGE ON TERMS OF PEACE. “Do not be blinded, do not be discouraged, by gny unfortunate episodes; realise the great central fact that we have checked the ambition of Germany,” said Mr Lloyd George. “The nations of the world have been painfully climbing the steep that leads to national independence and self-respect. Great Britain and France reached the plateau long ago. Other nations came later. There are people who say: But the peril is now past. Why, do you not make peace? The Kaiser now talks a different language. (Laughter). Yon never hear now those resounding phrases about the world power of Germany. He talks modestly about defending German soil. Who ever wanted to invade German soil? (Cheers.) Did Britain with her ‘contemptible little army’ want to invade Germany. Was Russia, who had not got a railway system which was adequate to keeping an army to defend her own frontier, preparing for invasion? Was France, who was obviously unprepared to protect even •her own frontiers, preparing for invasion? Or was it Belgium that was going to invade Germany? Was the Servian army going to march to Berlin. No, the Kaiser must know that it is not true. That is not why we went to war. That i$ not why he is at war now Even now neither he nor his new' Chancellor say they will be satisfied with German soil. They both talk glibly of peace, but they stammer they stutter, w'hen they come to the w'ord restoration. It has not yet crossed their lips in its entirety. We have challenged them. They cannot say it. Before we enter a peace conference they must learn to utter that word to begin with. The gallant soldiers are gradually going to cure the Kaiser of this stutter. So far he has not yet learned the alphabet of peace. The first letter in that alphabet is restoration Then we wall talk.