Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-20
.PRUSS|AN MENACE
|. MUST Be REMOVED
BEFORE WAR ENDS
Lloyd George Voices Views
of Allies in Rejecting
Teuton Proposals.
MUST KNOW WHAT TERMS
ENEMY is READY TO OFFER
Folly to Quit Now Before OBJ
ject of Conflict Has
Been Attained.
FAITH Is IL UNBROKEN ARMY
T2ils Commons to Accept Would BE
to Put Head Within Moose
for Germany to Pull.

iSS NSSoClate ell PreA4
LONDON. December i9--The an,
nouncement in the House of Commons
to-day by David Lloyd George. the
new i'rime Minister. that the first act
OF ms administration was the rejec-
tion of the proposal of the central
powers for n peace conference consti-
tuted one OF the most momentous
scenes which the oldest parliamentary
veterans ever hal witnessed
The new Premier declared that be-
fore the allies could give favorable
consideration to such an invitation
they must know that Germany Wa.
prepared To accede to the allies terms.
giving complete restitution full re.
oarationS and encctual guarantees"
and ito enter n conference upon the
invitation of Germany. proclaiminG
herself victorious. without any knowl-
eoSc OF her proposals. would be putt
ting our heads into a moose, wit,
END OF the rope in tiermany'S hards,,
Lloyd George asserted that at tn,
moment Germany penning the
note assuring her convictions as 10
the rights of other nations, she was
dragging Belgians into slavery En
announced that the note presented
through Washington contained no pro-
posalS OF terms but was paraphrase
OF Chancellor Won Rcthmann- -Hollwer's
! speech. and that the allies had sepa-
ratcly concluded to reject it, although
they had informally exchanged views.
and would within a few days present
joint reply.
DECISION or PREMIER
SECONDED BY ASQUITH
Mr. Asquith. the former Premier.
seconded Lloyd Georges decision with
even stronger words. and almost at
the same moment Earl Curzon was in
forming the Lords that the govern
mcnt would enter no conference that
did not guarantee for Europe the free
and independent existence of nations.
great and small. The Marquis OF
/ Crewe affirmed the approval of the
members of the late government
/ The day was doubly important one
/ for the Commons. because the n.
Premier unfoldcd his program for
wide-rcachinE war measures. and Mr.
Asiuith closed the last chapter as
nine years of leadership with an ac-
counting OF his war stewardship.
The principal feature of LLOYD
/ Georges program is Il measure for
national service. matching Germany's
! latest scheme. whereby every citizen
/ Will be liable for enrolment. to per
/ io'" III "orh ior "nlch the authorities
consider him best equipped
Arthur Neville Chamberlain. Mavor
OF birmingham. and Il member OF the
famous family. Will be director O; :
national service. with civil and mill
tarN directors responsible to him
The Premier prefaced his review OF
the situation by the statement that
Britons did their best in time of dan
GER that the country should be told
unpleasant facts. and that he would
give, not dark. but stern, view
OF the outlook
~" deplored the mistakes that had
been made regarding Roumauia He
said the government had decided to
deal firmly with Greece. and would
recognize the agents OF former Premier
Ncnizelos r,
The history OF the alliance had been
one of tardy decision The central
, powers had the great advantages or
Internal communication and working
under one supreme management whiI,.
the policy OF the entente allies had
been too much one of separate fronts
TERRIBLE RESPONSIBILITY
UPON HIS SHOULDERS
k'sinS III the House few minutes
after o'clock. the Prime Minister said:
Il appear before the House OF COM
mons to-day with the most terrible re-
sponsiblity that can fall upon tho
shoulders of any living man as chief
adviser of the crown, in the most
gigantic war in which this country WIS
ever engaged, war upon the events
, ot which its destiny depends. II is the
greatest war ever waged: the burdens
are the heaviest that have been cast
upon this or any other country. and
! the issues the Sravest that have been
attached to any conflict in which hu-
manity was ever involved
THE responsibilities of the new gov
"rnment have been suddenly accen-
tuated by the decla ration made by the
German Chancellor. The statement
made by him in the Reichstag has been
followed by note presented by tho
United states without note or COM
ment. The answer given by this gov.
ernment VII be given In full acco.d
with all our allies.
Naturally. there has been an Inter
change OF views, not upon the note,
because II has only recently arrived,
but upon the speech which impelled Ii.