Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-23
"ENGLAND SHOULD
CONSIDER OFFER"
Hot Night Session in House Of
Commons Follows B. l..
Smiths Speech.
B0NAR DEFENDS PREMIER
Says Lloyd-George Gave Only
Answer Possible to Pro-
posal of Kaiser.

LONDON. Dec. 22.-(9:1J D. m -
There was further discussion of Ger
manys peace offer in the house of
commons tonight Sir John A. Simon
on behalf of himself and n group of
followers gave unqualified support to
Premier Lloyd Georges speech In the
house Of commons and then Hastings
u. L. Smith. Liberal, dressed In his
military uniform, sounded a new note
urging that the German proposals
bc allowed to see the light Of day
Andrew BOnar Law. chancellor Of the
eNchequer and member OF the war
council, promptly rose in behalf Of
the government and declared that If
the tone Of Mr.. Smiths speech per-
nedted the country, then all the blood
and treasure which had been spent In
the war would have been spent In
vain.
Should Consider Peace.
My understanding" said Mr.. Smith
IN his address, rs that the reply Of
the premier to the German note was
TO the effect that the door was not
yet closed. That is wise answer and
me best possible answer at this stage.
The German proposals should be al
lowed to see the light Of day If they
disclose an aggressive purpose, then
the German people viii realize that
they are not suffering and diving for
lhelr mere existence as they have been
'old' II II were put to
vote or the men at the front whether
provided we could obtain guaran.
tees that our honorable obligations
would he fulfillcd-we should then
make serious effort TO get the par
Ties together, then | am certain such
proposition would be carried bV Vir-
tual unanimity.
am not prepared to face the
prospects Of military decision, which
means "a war of attritIon, unless I ann
convinced there Is no other way out.
Bonar Laws Answer.
Mr. Bonar Law said:
the spirit of the speech to which
We have just listened were to per
meaie the country | believe that all
me blood and treasure which have
been spent in the war would have
bcon spent in vain.
1T Is all very wei to say let us get
their terms OF peace. Yes. but can
YOU get any terms more binding than
the treaty for the protection Of the
neutrality of Belgium? Can YOU.
come To any conclusions on paper or
hy promises that will give us greater
security than We had before this
war?
What are VIC fighting for? Not
territory; not greater strength as a
nation. We are fighting for two
lhinES-ior peace now and for secu-
fnty for peace i'm time to come. lie.
the house remember that what has
happened in this war-Outrages in
Belgium, outrages by sea and land.
massacres In Armenia which Germany
could have stopped hv word-then
realize this: The war viii have been
fought in vain. utterly in VAN. unless
We can make sure that il shall never
again be- in the power OF any state 10
do what Germany has done.
Us peace 70 come in this war on The
basis that the greatest crime in the
W'rld' $ history Is to 20 absolutely un-
punished II is my firm belief that
unless all the nations in the world can
be made to realize that the moral
forces must be Vindicated there never
can be an enduring peace"