PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1918, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

ANOTHER LANSDOWNE LETTER. HIS LORDSHIP WAISTS ENLIGHTENMENT. . Received Aug. 1, 10.5 p.m. London, July 31. Lord Beauehamp presided at a meet- , ing of Lord Lansdowne's supporters at Essex Hall. A letter from Lord Lans- [ downe was read, in which the writer stated: We are about to commence the fifth year of the war. Shall we next week reaffirm the solemn resolve not to desist until we achieve peace with honor? I have the estimates of the belligerents' casualties, wind* are thirty millions, whereof seven millions are killed and siv millions prisoners or missing. The civilised world's resources are being drained, apart from the exhaustion of our national wealth. The losses of tonnage are as lamentable as the lossas of life. It is estimated that the declining birth-rate has robbed the European belligerenU of 12% million, potential lives. The Registrar-General .says that every day of war involves a loss to Europe of 7000 potential lives. The war has filled graves and emptied cradles.

To avoid a dishonorable peace we are ready to fight to the bitter end, but the tragedy of these figures is apparent. It would be criminal to continue the *ar a day after an honorable peaco is within reach. The desire for 1 peace appears widespread in enemy countries, but ve apparently are as far as ever from the end. The tide of destruction continues to flow. Recriminations stand in the way.

I have no desire to embarrass the Government, but feel it my duty to give the Government a.cliance of affording the country reassurance and enlightenment. I am convinced of the existence of a deep-seated desire for a further explanation of the conditions on which we are prepared to open a discussion leading to peace. Have we really stated our terms in unmistakable language? Admittedly there are serious difficulties in formulating and defining the cardinal points. We must make sure we are in line not only with our Allies but the Dominions. We must face racial and geographical problems of surpassing intricacy. There is a temptation to use vague language and generalities to slide over awkward questions. What is the use of interAllied conferences and the Imperial Galbinet if they fail to co-ordinate the aims of the Allies!

The Note of January 10, 1017, has become obsolete owing to Russian defection. The people are asking whether no conversations can be commenced before the Central Powers signify acceptance of the whole demands outlined in .Mr. Lloyd George's speech of January 8. General Smuts' Glasgow speech of May 17 gave the coup de grace to the theory of the knock-out blow, and pointed tbe way to a true conception of the sort of victory we regard as indispensable, aiming not merely at momentary superiority in the field, but also for permanent security whereuftder it would be possible eventually to realise President Wilson's ideals.

I am not positive we have reached the stage at which there is a prospect of a preliminary agreement on essential points and profitable conversations. There are abundant indications that such occasions will present themselves in the near future. Let us be prepared to use them in a reasonable spirit, at least giving our adversaries the chance of showing whether their overtures are sincere. —Press Assoc.

PLAYING GERMANY'S GAME. A LLP. MANIFESTO. Received August 1, 8.50 p.m. London, July 31. A manifesto of the Independent La/bor party protests that the Allies' expeditions in Munnan and Siberia are being carried out in direct opposition to the Russian Government's wishes, and have created alarm and resentment among the mass of the Russian people, being supported only by aristocratic and capitalistic classes and a few Liberal-Social-ist supporters of Kerensky's Administration.