The Washington herald., 1914-08-19
|SAYS WAR Will
|AIDNATIONALISTS
British M. p, Visiting Here,
Asserts the Conflict Will
Hasten Home Rule.
ENGLAND WAS PREPARED
But Not to Fight Germany. Declares
Peace Advocate and Head Of
Greatest Labor Union.

James Henry Thomas, member OF Par
Washington yesterday. He came to this
country a few days before his government
delivered its ultimatus to the Kaiser and
expects to sail from New York for home
today.
Il would not have come away had.
forseen this war" he said last night to
Herald reporter. There was not a
sign of such trouble when left home
am here investigating railways, particu-
larly from the standpoint of accidents"
Mr.. Thomas is president Of the National
Union of Railways OF Great Britain and
Ireland. said to be the largest labor
union in the world. He was elected to
Parliament on the labor ticket in 1906
when he was, driving a railway engine,
and is now serving his third term in the
House Of Commons.
Kitchener Popular.
The visitor declared England could
have made no better choice at the time
than Lord Kitchener for the office Of
secretary OF state for war.
1T was not a political appointment
at ALL he said. Lord Kitchener was
| selected as a soldier and 1 have no
doubt the choice was a very popular
one. 1t makes him commander-in-
chief Of the army and as such he will
direct all its operations from the war
ofice. Gen. French, a good man, is
in command at the front"
Mr.. Thomas expressed the opinion
that an Industrial revolution will come
TO Germany as the result of war.
There is bound to be an uprising in
some form against the autocracy which
has brought Germany into the present
trouble" he said.
War Hnstens Home UuIe.
Home rule for Ireland is bound to
come now" he added. "Redmond's state
ment at the. outbreak Of the war OF Ire
lands loyal attitude was undoubtedly
well founded. Irishmen will fight as
loyalty and as hard as ever. There is no
doubt about that except in the imagina-
ton Of a few who assert the contrary.
Ireland will win home rule in this war
They would have got it anyway, but
this will bring it sooner"
Mr.. Thomas declared the Kaiser acted
as II he believed God had chosen him to
rule the whole world. and as II he
thought the choice was an excellent
one"
There can be no doubt that Great
Britain was prepared for a war, but
never for this particular one" he con-
tinued. Il am sure England did not
anticipate this war. Every attempt had
been made by her to cement friendly
relations with Germany and all other
powers. 1 know 1t. I am Of the peace
party at home. but after thinking 1t all
over. have reached the conclusion that
England could not have done otherwise
She had to go into this war"
Wilson Admired Abroad.
While passing from Canada into the
United States a few days ago Mr..
Thomas was impressed. he said. by the
absence OF even single soldier guard
ing the frontier. 1T showed to me that
here are at least two countries, one
might say. that depend entirely upon
each others friendship and get along
without fortress, or garrison, or gun
boat on the boundary line"
Perhaps this war will bring universal
peace do not look for 1t TO end very
soon. 1t seems to me the armies cannot
well come to good grips in few weeks
Mr.. Thomas declared President Wilson
is to be in very high standing with peace
advocates in England. They regard him
as one Of the best statesmen the world
has ever produced and one of the greatest
men America has produced" said he
We think anybody but Wilson would
have got this country into war with
Mexico. His appeal to the country to-
day is most statesman-like and timely"