, 1916-11-15

~ 49,
Robertson. The leading speech Of the even
ing was delivered by Mr.. Asquith, who in
abiding 10 peace, declared that nobody had
greater reason than Great Britain to desire,
peace, bat that it was desired on only one
condition, that The sacrifices of the War
Should not have been made III vain. A fea-
tute OF the speeches was The Whlm Tribute OF
.diniration on the stand taken by Kumnnia, and
Tue exp ession Of the opnion that although
the stuck Oh Rumanla had not yet been
defeated it had be- II successfully stayed. Mr..
A.qulth hogan has speech with II reference TO
turkey, which country he described AS u sub
SCI Went agent of German interests and anbi-
t,ou as was instnnced he said by the fact
ttutt by lifting a finger Germany might have
arrested the Armenian horrors, but instead
locked on uuEloved, acquiescent, and possibly
even compiaceDt. 1hat, snidMl. A-quiIh, is
!, aignifca, t sample Of what Il continuance OF
the rule Of German Turkey IN Europe will
menD. Mir. A@QuIth said he would refrain
itum unv detailed review Of the naval and
Miliary situation. lie uwelt however on the
continued Intense Allied success, and said the
British navy was ready, and more than ready,
whenever opportunity was offered to 1t.
With regard 10 the Greek situation Mr..
Asqu th said he wouid like TO speak with as
much confidence rs hope. The Entente Allies
went 80 Sa!onica ms fliebdS OF nor!h G; eece
aud Serbia he sad. The sole desit was TO
prevent Greece from becoming enmeshed
in he GermaLir uet, aud to save her from
internal strife. Whatever appal emily drastic
measures had beeu taken We're directed
solely by the necessity Of preventing Athens
from becoming the centre OF German p opa-
gnnda and intrigue. Declaring tina: the En-
tente Allies were IN hearty sympathy with
nj N1pi1alOS fOru1pV Grpak Premier MIR
Asquith ueked how Greece could possibly
stand aloof from a war for the emancipa-
ton of smaller States. Greece, Mr.. Aaquith
continued, first lit the torch of Liberty IN
EUope and withstoJd the thrush OF eastern
bGl barlsm and tyranny. May Greece kind
die her lamp and show herself worthy of
her immortal past. Dealing with the gene
yal situation, Mr.. A-quith said, let there
be no Illusion about our enemies. They
are great organizers and fine fighters i'll
the field. They are also if not skilful yet
interchangeable workers in the sphere of pro-
pa4anda where they have a double motive
80 divide tue Allies and capture neutral Opin-
ion. ms this connection Mr.. Asquitb cha
Iacjerized the German suggestion OF Il sinister
design on the part OF the Entente Allies to
combine against Neutral countries and build
zip an impenetrab!e stone wall against their
trade as childish fiction which could only
mean that the Allies were bent upon the
economic suicide. He said it ought to be
unnecessary TO affirm that when the time
comes for peace that nothing will be more
essential for The Entente Allies from the
standpoint of simple self interest than to
establish and maintain the best Industrial
and innuclal relations with ntutrnIs. Allu-
ding TO the different methods OF propaganda
which lie said were employed at different
places with u view to dividing the Allies and
Influencing opinion in favour of a separate
peace. NJ. Asquith said 81 desire to declare
wi hout Hesitation or reserve that the Allies
fighting ID a common cause, that for the
purpose Of war their interests are identical
and that a victory securing those interests is
in or Judgment the only condition of a last
ing peace. And continuing, Mr.. Asquith
said, he desired TO mention that hitherto Ne
German pIopagandist had ever suggested
thai Germany was prepared to ccncede any
thing to the demand Of the Allies for the re-
constitution and independence of Serbia. Al
luding to what lie termed he propaganda con-
Quoted in Russia to the effect that Great Bri-
tain's only desire to prolong the war, and pre-
vent any sort OF peace, was because sheis max
ing huge profits by exploiting herAllies unscru-
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