A Tiger Hunt.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 March 1918, Page 6

A Tiger Hunt.

THE POLITICAL CRISIS. • LONDON, February 15. Headed "Asquith or George—which would you go tiger-hunting with?" the "Daily Mail'-' asks who "wants fo go back to "wait and see," restoring Mr Asquith to Downing Street, sacrifice Mr. Lloyd George's courage, imagination, driving-power, and moral fervour and the Allies' confidence in his leadership, to return to the old regime of muddle, wobble and Celay? If Mr. Lloyd George is not the best man to win the war, let the old gang and their pacifist friends show a better, and set up a more vigorous, more acceptable administration. They shrink from that test, as well they may as it would mean their destruction. Neither Mr. Lloyd George nor the Government may be perfect, but the Empire and the Allies know that they have the root of the matter in them)— the will to win. In the House of Commons, during the debate on the Address-in-Reply, Mr. Holt (Ld) ) moved an amendment Tegretting that the Supreme War Council was only concerned in the task of the proseution of military effort, and suggesting that there were alternative methods for.accomplishing our ends. Mr. Balfour, foreign Minister, said that the debate was due to a misunderstanding of what had happened at "Versailles and the reference to it in the King's speech. The Versailles Council had met to deal with the great military problems with which we were faced. The Council had not attempted to survey the war aims, and was not fitted "to deal fully with regard to them. Nevertheless the council' had come to the conclusion that there was no g'.immer of peace in Dr_ von Hertling's or Count Czernin's speeches. Therefore military measures were made more important than ever. Mr. Balfour, continuing, said that„it was true that Prcsideut Wilson had found a more tender tone in Count Czernin's speech, but even Count Czernin was not prepared to accept any of .President Wilson's important war-aims The Government's view was that the attitude of the Central Powers showed that diplomacy was at present impotent. The Central Powers, Mr. B'alfour, continued, had banged the- door. The German Chancellor and the Kaiesr had emphasised the fact that they were as far removed as three years ago from accepting President Wilson's ideals, to which all the Allies had subscribed. Germany had shown that she did not mean to come to terms. ' , Germany's Eastern • successes, which were not due to fighting, demonstrated her true spirit, namely, to add to her territory, to" secure her military extension by acquiring a controlling influence over new great areas and to make her borders secure by getting new allied populations under her control. That was Germany's policy in 1914, that was Germany's policy, vide Dr. von Hertling and the Kaiser, at the present hour. Everyone knew that German peace had but one meaning, namely, a peace making every other nation subservient to Germany. (Cheers.)