TERRIBLE TERMS BUT A TERRIBLE CRIME.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1919, Page 5

TERRIBLE TERMS BUT A TERRIBLE CRIME.

Peace Treaty Traversed.

tßy British Premier.

Guarantees for France.

Against German Aggression.

JUcelved July 4, 7.45 p.m. London, July 3. Tht (fiouu of Commons was crowded ifftia (Mf. lioyd George addressed the BMM OB th» Treity. The Prince j|j W&lu Was itt the Peers' gallery. Xki Itettier, Who Was enthusiaswikotoed, said he had to lay on . taut two Bills to enforce the maritttotl* document to -which the seal of til* i British Empire had been affixed. CM Wai to give effect to the provisions 4t tiii treaty, and the other to obtain MfUtWtt to the Anglo-French convenpftltt a tribute to the servtm Of Ututt. folfour and .Barnes and jkkl Ovttaou ttpreiWitatives. Itr. IJoyd George said the terms were ifc su»ny respects terrible, but so were the deeds and consequences thereof inflated Upon the world. The latter wtfflW fcave toeen mere terrible had Germany ' succeeded., The terms 6f the treaty were stern but just. After describing: 'Germany's great Mwnfall, the Premier emphasised the JunineM of the restoration of AlsaceLorraine, Sehlerwig-Holstein and Poland, also the justness of the Reparation terms; concerning which he deblared that if .the whole cost of the War hart been thrown upon Germany it Would have accorded with every principle of civil jurisprudence. Be theft emphasised the justice of the (disarmament of Germany and the deSivation of her Colonies. Concerning 6 latter, hit emphasised the fact that tt«fe was the tfidSt overwhelming evlawes that Germany had cruelly illtfe&M the natives, 'and. in the face of this, thft restoration of these Colonies in of thi» part natives had taketl in their own liberation." thus (rtviag Gertrtfthy the opportunity to UftlM tepriials! Would haVe been a base MtrajAt. The Premier pointed wit M ' «wd her eolenie* to South AWca in order to stir im sedition aw fetoeitlen against the £outh African IP#]*?!. and used her colonies elsewhere |as bases for prey ins on the commerce bf the adja<wit. colonies. "It wotijd have been foil* if we had renewed Germany's opportunities for mischief." - TRYING. THE EX-KAISER. ■ •

His triht'itil irt London to try the Kaiser tfoflld be atl inter-Allied one (Cheers*. The officers sruiltv of the submarine outrages* would be tried. They would get an abiolutftly fair trial. (Cheers). The Premier challenged anyone to point out a sing'" act of injuAt'ce in the peace terms or anything which any 'perfectly impartial court would not have Adjudicated in exactly the same way. SEIKOUBNEfifi OF GERMANY'S ' OFFENCE.

Referring te the criticisms that thodgtt the ihd.iVid.Ual conditions might be right the cumulative effect was crushing, and that the treaty, though it might be just, inight not be Wise, Mr. lioyd George emphasised the heinousness of Germany's offence, also the fact that German; suffered less than other countries in the war. Germany's crimes imurt be marked. The world could iidt take these risks again. The German people were not being punished for the crimes of their rulers, for the German people had unitedly and enthusiastically approved of the war. He unhesitatingly challenged anyone topoint to a single clause in the treaty which did not accord with the stern and highest demands of justice and fait play. "W6 wefe determined that the treaty should not be a scrap of paper."

GUARANTEES FOR FRANCE. The guarantees included, the disarmament of Germany and the destruction: of her arsenals. The British delegates without hesitation proposed that tlife reduced German army be voluntary s&li long service, thus leaving; the mass 0f ■ JKtSple untrained, and rendering it ivpeeeible for Germany to raise huge armies. The same applied to the navy. :• He-- proposed to introduce a Bill deal-

Dig With Anglo-American guarantees in 1 thfl eVeht of an unprovoked attack on 'France* ((Steers). France had legitimate reason -for serious apprehension, when Britain and America had gone home alld ,tlie gallant men of the Donrinionß^-fCheers) —who haa fought eo bravely in IVance—Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and Canadians, all of whom ha£l now the deepest affection of the French people. When these had departed.and France saw only the Rhine between her and her foe, who had "trampled her ruthlessly'and torn tor flesh twice within living memory, Romeo eaid: ''We would like to know Act' you Britons and Americans who lidded to emancipate our soil are still behind us against wanton aggression." The Premier invited Parliament to say grei." (Cheer*). . FORCE BEHIND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Be did not agree that that would Show a lack of faith in the League ef Nations. The latter would be valueless itmfeu it had the sanction behind it of strong nations prepared to stop aggression at a moment's notice. The do<iument only bound us in the case of wanton provocation by Gerifiany. The other guarantee vis the .aftfty of occupation. France did not wish to keep an anny on theKhine a single day longer than was absolutely necessary, and if Germany ihowed goodwill sad gave the neuewaiy guarantees France waa quite prepared to recsongider the qaestktfi of * oqpopatioh at the proper moment, p (Britain wa directly interested in the qraestibfi of the e#ib of the anny of occupation, beerase ehe did not wish to> itnpcAe utfneWssary txpetme upon Germaßy t twaM be 4 flretefcarga The flprern- j

her undertaking with regard to disarmament the cost of the army of occupation Should not exceed 240,000,000 marks. An agreement on this matter was signed by President Wilson, Mr. Clemenceau and himself. It required no ratification. A GREAT AND HOPEFUL EXPERIMENT.. There was a guarantee of a league of nations, a great and hopeful experiment, which was only rendered possible by the other conditions of peace. It was due to the world to try the experiment earnestly. The league, unfortunately, did not mean tha.t we would never have war, but it would be justified if it prevented one war. (Cheers.) He begged that nobody would sneer at the league. (Loud cheers, especially from Labor benches.) He bebeved the experiment would succeed, and that the league Would make crime difficult and unsuccessful. Therefore he looked hopefully and confidently to the league for great things for humanity. He expressed the opinion that the immediate admission of Germany to the league would be a mistake. The date of Germany's admittance depended upon herself. (Cheers.) If Germany created obstacles and showed that the same qjd spirit animated her the would not accelerate the date, but if she really showed that she had broken with the past, that the fires of war had purified her sou}, and that she realised the policy (si the last 150 years had been bitter aAd mistaken, then she could accelerate the date. The sooner that came about the better it would be for Germany and the world.

THE MANDATORY PRINCIPLE.

Referring to the German colonies, the Premier said these had not been distributed among the conquerors, but would be administered by the Great Powers on behalf of humanity. The mandatory powers would differ according to the particular territory concerned. For example, Bouth West Africa, running as it did alongside the Cape, was felt to be so much a part geographically of that country that it/Would be quite impossible to treat it in the same way as a colony removed two or three thousand mile 9 from the centre of mandatory administration. Doubtless South West Africa would become an integral part of the Federation of South Africa. It would be colonised by South Africans. They could not have done anything else, for they could not set up customs barriers ahd different systems of administration. The same applied to New Guinea, but did not apply to Togoland, the Camer<y>ns, or German East Africa. It would be found that the conditions of the mandates set up for these territories were the same as applied to the British colonies over the whole world.

The responsibilities of the British Empire under this' mandate Were enormously increased. Something like 600,000 square miles had been added to its already gigantic charge on the Empire's shoulders, a charge which had been undoubtedly fulfilled in a way which won Ihe wonder of the Whole world.

t THE LABOR CHARTER. .Referring to the labor conference, Mr. Lloyd George said it was a matter 1 of the inost vital importance for tlie world's future industrial conditions. It was intended to secure bitter and more uniform labor conditions, and when it was bdrni in miiid that at 4east threequarters of the armies that won the great victory were drawn from the working classes of the various nations, it wHs felt that they had won the right to a corner of their own. He was glad it was largely through the initiation of Mr. Barnes that this charter was added to tha treaty. He hoped this: machinery would enable the establishment of some permanent means of raising the level of Labor over the whole world, and not handicapping countries where Labor was well treated in competition in neutral markets with countries were the conditions of labor were inferior. That was the great purpose of this great charted

BRITISH EMPIRE'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS. The Prettier proceeded to emphasise that no country had a greater share in the tremendous victory of the Allies than the British Empire. He pointed out that the Empire raised 7,700,000 soldiers and sailors—(loud cheers) —and raised War loans totalling £9,500,000,000. The casualties of the Empire forces totalled over three millions, not including sailors, of •whom 15,000 were killed. The. Navy and Mercantile Marine kept the sea, and without them the War would have collapsed in six months. During the last two years of the war Britain not only bore the heaviest burden of the fighting . in France, but the Whole burden of the attack oh Turkey, which crumbled ,to dust. (Cheers.) It was a great record, and showed what ooUld be achieved by a great people united and inspired by a common cause. "Let us rejoice like men who are under no delusion that our troubles are past, and that ,the spirit Which enables us to overcome them will also enable us cheerfully to face the future. Let us not waste our strength prematurely in fighting each other "

A PLEA FOR UNITY AND CONCORD. The Premier most solemnly declared that in ofder to prevent the country front Binking under its burdens and wounds "we must most effectively use the resources of Britain and the Empire and make all reasonable men contented." He urged the people to support the Victory Loan in order to reap the fruits of victory. Each must give such strength, goodwill, and co-operation as he could. The Premier ridiculed the idea that now peace had come all would go right without effort. He pointed out that output had diminished and cost of production increased. That was exactly the opposite road to the road leading to prosperity, as even the Bolsheviks in Russia Lad begun to discover. Mr. Lloyd George concluded by appealing for co-operation and the maintenance of that spirit of patriotism which alone, could bring us to a real and glorious triumph. MOST STRIKING PORTION. The lobbies considered the most striking portion of Mr. Lloyd George's speech is that dealing with tie ex-Kaiser. The secret had been well kept. It is presumed the trial will take place at the law courts, and steps will .be taken immediately to secure the extradition* In a statement issued from Downing Street, Mr. Lloyd George greatly regretted having inadvertently omitted to refer to Lord Robert Cecil's and General Smuts splendid services in framing the League of Nations. Lord Robert Cecil also rendered admirable services on the economic commission.

SIGH TRIBUTES,

TO PREMIER'S DEVOTION AND WORK. Received July 4, 6.5 p.m. London, Jul" 3. During the Peace debate, Mr. Adamson paid a tribute to Mr. Lloyd George's devotion to his stupendous task. The Labor party wanted Germany in the League of Nations ufter she had ratified the treaty. They wanted a real league, not one between the Allied nations. He regretted the treaty did not contain the machinery for the abolition of conscription. Sir Edward Carson eulogised Mr. Lloyd George's patience, ■ courage and energy in conducting the war. History would recogniso that he was the man above all others who had preserved the liberties of Europe. Sir Edward Carson also reciprocated Mr. Lloyd George's plan for unity. Both Bills were read a firßt time amid cheers.

TRIBUTE TO COLONIAL PREMIERS. Received June 5, 12.25 a.m. London, July 3. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Premier, in the course of a tribute rendered to .the Dominions' representatives, mentioned the names of Sir Robert Borden, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Massey (cheers), who had participated in some of the most difficult commissions, notably the Territorial Commissions for adjusting extraordinarily delicate and complex ethical economics and strategic questions which had arisen- Mr. Lloyd George Said: "We owed a great deal to the ability and judgment With which tlicy discharged their functions." He also paid a tribute to the great body of experts who had helped innumerable commissions, and whose work had been the admiration of tlife foreign delegations. The Premier also paid a tribute to the splended services rendered by Lord Robert Cecil and Generals Smuts in {faming the League of Nations.