PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1917, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

English m.p.»s proposal. 4% BALFOUR CORRECTS AN ERiROR. "REMEMBER THE LUSITANIA! M

;Beceived Nov. 7, 8.15 p.m. London, Nov. C. In the-House of Commons, during the debate on the. Consolidated Fund Bill, .Mr. lee Smith moved: "That provided satisfactory guarantees can be obtained regarding the'independence and restoration of Belgium'and ,the evacuation of other-occupied territory, no obstacle should unplaced?in the way of preliminary p>#e" negotiations, which might embody 'ail flpiitable settlement of the 'AlsMe'Lorraine question and provide the machinery for the avoidance of future Wars." The-, mover declared there was ft secret "agreement between France and Russia that; in the event of the Allies beiftg vietorious, Germany, in addition to AlsacfljL»rraine, Would lose great tracts of terfftbfg ,#«: the west bank of the Bhinc And the whole of the Saar valley. . Jfe 'lfclfdut interposed by stating Vm Britain Uad entered into no such agreement."' The statements related to an agwcnttnt between France and the Taift ''•*« -. .. ■ Mr. Lcagu£;s#|tfi6M, declared: "We must .Welcome- GejmaJjy into it." Cries of. "Never! Remember the LusiJanial'f.',,,!,:. Mr. Ramsay' Mac Donald wished to formula, of "no annexations 'aiitl no-'fademnitieß." He said the country iho»M «leatly state its war aims, andjruike.,those aims real. •Mr.- Balfour said these discussions did Jaot)-;l*!ir9t: the Government in its object pf obtainins»vfth honorable peace. Si'pnorte^s'of:tho motion appeared to dcsir> that pease "iiowld ot take place until all Enrope had been democratised according to Mir. Ramsay MaeDonald's pattern. Nothing would unite Germany more against '-her enemic than the idea that her enemies desired to oreo upon her, pot 1 form pf Government she desired, biit a form her enemies happened to admire.* Mr. Tialfonr characterised the alleged (secret treaty for handing over German parts of Germany to France or some independent .commnnity as x mare's nest. Ro existed. We were flghtfilg in Europe might be free from .Gernjiii militarism. Germany d:rlined to war aims in replying eitlwr.ttftftfrPopQ's Not'; or to President Wilson..' Hi* Condemned tho misrepresentation in the House of the Government's official statements. Mr. combated the view that if the Alsace question wore out of the Wav or settled separately, other war ai»?' ar;e wltliln rench of attainment. vai a jompletc fallacy. Mr, F-Onar Laiv moved the closure, which was carried by 285 to 23. Mr. I#i*J3mith's motion was negatived jrithout a division.