New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-25
MUST WAIT,
GREY DECLARES
Decision Up to France, He
Replies to Demands
in Commons.

London, May 24.-ln an impromptu
speech in the House Of Commons to-
night, Sir Edward Grey. the British
Foreign Secretary, set aside all ideas
that peace negotiations were possible
at present Sir Edwards speech was
made in reply to Arthur Ponsonby, Lib
eral Member for Stirling, Scotland, who
strongly attacked the government for
allowing diplomatic etiquette to stand
in the way of possible peace negotia-
tions and for employing the American
press as a platform"
Sir Edward declared that 1t was i'm
possible to consider terms of peace
without a previous agreement between
the Entente Allies. He declared that
the hostilties had not yet reached a
stage where il was possible to talk Of
peace. especially as the German public
was constantly being "fed with lies" by
its ministers.
Mr.. Ponsonby's references to the use
Of the American press as platform
was the outgrowth of recent inter
view with Sir Edward Grey. Sir Ed
ward. in replying to this attack, while
admitting that important disclosures of
policy ought first to be made to Par
lament, argued that a crisis might
arise during the war when considera-
tions Of etiquette snould not be al
lowed to stand in the way. He con-
tended that, since German statesmen
constantly were giving interviews and
statements to the American press, il
would be mere pedantry which would
hinder British statesmen from counter
ing these statements in the interest of
their own country.
Urges British Peace Move.
Mr.. Ponsonby argued against pro-
longing thu war merely for the sake OF
obligations to Great Britain's allies.
The sneaker said that if the war had
20 be continued until Constsntinople
fell or until the unknown obligations
10 the Allies were fulfilled. the coun-
trv ought to be told what these obli-
cations were, and that II there were
no essential differences between Ger
many and Great Britain, and no such
Obligations. the government ought to
take the earliest opportunity to press
for a termination of the war.
The war would never end, Mr.. Pon-
SONNY continued, if Great Britain wait
ed until Sir Edward Grey and Won
Bethmann- Hollweg agreed as TO who
was responsible for the war. Had Ger
many refused TO restore Belgium, evac-
uate France and Serbia and form an
independent Poland? Had she refused
TO agree to form an international coun-
Gil to maintain European peace! MI
Ponsonby asked.
Eve ought not 70 allow diplomatic
etiquette TO stand in the way Of taking
the lead definitely, openly and boldly
to bring the nations back to sanity and
peace" Mr.. Ponsonby concluded.
Peace a Political Problem.
James Ramsay Macdonald, Labor
member for Leicester, supported Mr..
Ponsonby. He declared that peace was
a political and not military problem,
and that il was the duty of the gov
ernment to state the terms on which
il was prepared TO conclude a peace.
Sir Edward Grey characterized
Chancellor Won Bethmsnn-Hollweg's re-
cent statement that Great Britain was
prepared TO go to war over Bosnia as
"a first class lie" rne real reason for
the prolongstion of the war was that
the German government was continu-
ally telling its people that they were
winning the war and that the Allies
were beaten.
Sir Edward declared that II any Of
the Allies had q right 10 speak with re-
gard to peace at the present moment
Il was France, on whom the concen-
trated fury of the German attack had
been thrown. Rebuking Mr.. Ponsonby
for making no allusion TO Verdun, Sir
Edward said:
France Has Right to Speak.
Through the long battle OF Verdun
France is saving not only herself, but
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