EMPIRE'S WAR AIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1917, Page 7

EMPIRE'S WAR AIMS.

SPEECH BY GENERAL SMUTS. NO GERMAN WAR MAP POSSIBLE. General Smuts and Admiral Sir John Jcllicoe, First Sea Lord, speaking at a great meeting in connection with the War-alms Campaign at Sheffield, were accorded a magnificent ovation. The drill hall was packed by 6000 people, and thousands more were unable to gain admission.

General Smuts, on rising, was received with the utmost enthusiasm, lie said that the attitude of the nation and every other nation belonging to the Empire had been beyond praise, and the reward would come in due time. The people of this country had stood the strain, and he Was certain that their nerves would prove even stronger than 'their steel. If united the Empire should after the war reap the fruits of the war. Victory would mean very little if after the war We were going to indulge in class war or economic chaos. Patience and courage alone would solve all the great industrial troubles which might be ahead. KING OUT THE OLD, RING IN THE SEW.

"Wo want to see arise from the carnage and slaughter a new and better world. We want to see justice in this country and less poverty and less luxury. We want to see better standards of living, more economic freedom, security for all workers in a world where there will be no idlers, nor rich nor ipoor. To gain this end militarism must be swept away from the face of the earth. (Cheers). "I hope that we will never sheatho the sword, never make peace, until we know that there is no longer any threat of militarism.

"The principal achievement of the war should be to establish permanent muehinory for securing peace. We want to sec that arbitration will prevent future wars. We want a League of Nations, with force behind it, ensuring that there shall be no future threat to the peace of the world. It would be the suicide of Western, civilisation if this cataclysm were repeated. 1 believe that all great nations are agreed that this war Bhall be followed by permanent machinery to maintain the peace of the world. "What is a good peace? I would like to see a peace which would setile all the vital issues that have been raised. GERMANY MUST LEARN" DESSON.

"The Pope says that we should express no moral judgment on the conduct of nations or the cause which led to the war. I cannot agree. (Cheers). Wo cannot make pence until the German war map becomes a scrap of paper. (Cheers).

"Germany roußt learn the lesson that wars don't pay, that the wages of sin is death. (Cheers). Germany must not retain one inch of her war map at the end of the war. Let our motto be: No spoliation and no spoliator; no peace until Germany is prepared to evacuate all the countries she has overrun.

"Another condition of a good peace is that the rights of small nations must be recognised and secured. (Cheers). We don't want to break up Germany or Austria, but wo say let these small nations get autonomy if they cannot get independence. Let them not be tyrannised by these Imperialistic Empires. (Cheers). Is it not worth while to tight till wo get rid of the Kaiser and all th» other instruments of tyranny? God will judge the Kaiser. Give us a good peace and you need not solve now all the prob'ems confronting the universe. Peacemaking will be more difficult than warmaking. It is an enormous task, which may be almost too much for human power, insight and courage. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.

"A negotiated peace is the most dangerous thing possible at present. I do not trust diplomatists and statesmen enough, (Cheers). The nations have the right to know when their statesmen are going to a conference what is going to happen. "Some people would throw up the sponge and eay: 1/et us sit round the table and see what will become of this talk'; hut respectable people with the great ideals which we.mean to achieve will not listen to such talk. (Cheers). Wo do not want secret diplomacy. Before I know what is to become of the German war map my vote will go against any peace by negotiation. (Cheers). "The fundamental principles must be settled before our representatives go to conference to settle the details. I think a mistake is made in putting the restoration of Belgium as our principal war aim. The restoration of Belgium is a condition precedent to any peace. Until we have in advance an assurance that complete evacuation and restoration are agreed upon we are not going to talk about jeace even. (Oheers). The desire for peace iu Germany and Austria is indescribable. It is due to suffering amongst the people of which we hero have no conception. Germany took the initiative in declaring war. It rests with Germany to tako the initiative in proposing peace.

GERMANY'S FUTURE COMPROMISE. . "We want a definite statement from Germany when she makes peace proposals and what she proposes to do with her war map. The German people can have peace to-morrow from the Entente, but it must submit genuine, honest proposals. It will then be time to talk peace. If Germany does not submit such proposals Wo are prepared to go on. (Cheers). "Germany's whole economic future is compromised unless she makes in time a peace we considor satisfactory, and the longer she waits the worse will lie her fate." (Cheers)'.