GREAT BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 113, 6 October 1914, Page 5

GREAT BRITAIN

I 6PEEOH BY MR ASQUITH. <* A REPLY TO GERMAN FABLES. '' y NO ANTI-GERMAN' AGGRESSION. ( LONG WAR PREDICTED. • -. . . London October 4. Mr Asquith, addressing a meeting of ten thousand at Cardiff, said that in 191fl the Cabinet had laid down the terms of British relations with Germany, communicating the followin" declaration to her:—"Britain declares that flic ■will neither make nor join in any unprovoked attack upon Germany. Aggmi*ion upon Germany forms no part «f any treaty, understanding or combination to which Britain is now a party, nor will she become a party to anything raving such an object." Mr Asqm'th added: "There was nothing ambiguous or equivocal about that, yet Germaniv asked us to pledge oar neutrality when she bcrsulf was entffmously increasing her aggressive resources and asked us to bind ourselves absolutely to neutrality in the tTont of war. She asked for a free hand when 6he had selected her opportunity to overbear and dominate the European world. Only one answer was possible, and that answer we gave. Now wo seen written in letters of carnage and spoliation the signs of the methods of Germany's long-prepared scheme against the liberties of Europe." After referring to tile sanctity of treaties and the right of small as well as large nationalities to live, Mr Asquith said, "That is the reason why we brought the Indians to Marseilles and extracted from our most distant overseas Dominions the 'best of their nanhood." At the end of the war he looked forward to seeing Europe sife-jniard ed for ever from the recrudescence of the era of Wood and iron. Had England foresworn her word, deserted her friends and compromised witr. the nlain dictates of duty theTe would have Decs nothing for the country but to vale her face in shame, be ready for her turn to share the doom she had richly deserved, and go down, after centuries of florious life, to the grave unwept, unonored and unsung. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, October 4. The Times declares that of all gross miscalculations made in Germany nothing ean have more disconcerted the rancorous Berlin professors than the mighty wave of loyalty that has swept over India. The Times military corraspondeni warns the country that there is a prospect of a long war and urges corl< spending measures. Mr Anthony Wilding has 'been appointed second lieutenant in the Royal Marines. POPE STILL STRIVES FOR PEACE. Rome, October 4. The Pope has written an autograph , letter to the Emperor Francis Joseph, again urging him to use his influence to shorten the inhuman conflict.