The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-26
To Accept Offer Would Place
Nations in Bondage.
Arthur Henderson Addresses
French Socialists.
WARS MOST CRITICAL PERIOD
Anticipates Many Months More
of Sacrifices.
No Peace Until End of War
Forever Assured.

Paris, Dec 26.-In addresses at the
national congress of the French So
cialist party, Arthur Henderson, the
British cabinet minister. and c. H.
Roberts, member of the British parlia-
ment, both affirmed amidst enthusi-
astic encores that the war must be
fought out until full guarantees have
been obtained for a lasting peace
I'm my opinion said Mr.. Hender-
son. eff France and ourselves were te
enter into negotiations under existing
conditions, we should be nations in
bondage Nothing less than that is the
price our enemies would exact for
peace today
Emil Nandervelde, the Belgian So
cialiSt leader. said:
"Our comrades who have remained
in invaded Belgium have endured Ger
man dominion with admirable firm
reaches us from them So that it
would seem that the people most hos
tile to war are those farthest from it.'s
NJ. Vandervelde also declared that
the struggle must be carried on until
Belgium and Serbia are delivered and
"Caesarism is laid low
In his speech Mr.. Henderson said:
I'm my opinion we have now reached
the most dangerous and difficult
period of the war. During the next
few months the democracies of Eng
land and France are going to be
tested as never before. Do not misun-
derstand me. ! do not mean stress
and strain of fighting in the field will
be more severe, altho 1 do not ignore
such possibility. but the danger is OF
entirely a different character.
Would Not mortgage the Future"
Our stupendous losses. our unprec-
edented sacrifices, our horror of war,
our love of peace, may lead us to
IL ~
fuf experiences we are apt to forget
the great moral and eternal prfnci-
pies and ideals for which we enter
ed the struggle. We are not only
fighting negative action against ma
terial forces which are highly organic
ed but we are engaged in a great spir-
itual conflict upon the result of which
depend all our great ideals
If we enter into negotiations now
we do so when Germany is not re-
pentent for her wrong doing and is
glorlfylng in the success OF her mill
ttary efforts in fact, in the victory OF
German Imperialism. In my opfn-
ION II France and ourselves were TO
enter INTO negotiations under existing
conditions with such spirit we
should be nations in bondage. Moth
| ing less than that is the price which
our enemy would exact for peace to-
day.
| cannot tell you how many monthz
ana what sacrifices stand between us
and victory. But ] can tell you what
VIII De the rewards of victory if we are
true to ourselves We shall have as
serted the rights of nations. large or
small, to i've their own lives undis-
/ turbed by the ambitions of powerful
| ne1ghbors. We shall have exacted such
/ reparation for wrongs. done them by
| TINS war as will be warning to aggres-
| sors for all time to come We shall
/ have laid foundations for that league
/ of nations. beginning with those who
| have fought and suffered at our side.
| which Will deliver Europe and the
1 world from the terror of war.
Peace Now UntimcIy
The choice today is between an url-
! timely peace with years of fear and n
/ few months of suffering with a last
! ing peace. Taking into consideration
all the consequences of the decision T
say now in August 1914 both ma
/ tions are presented with the choice as
! between honor and family. The choice
/ is more sacred now as the cause has
/ been sealed by the blood of our heroic
dead. We in Britain feel to make
peace now. to think of peace az any
! time with less than full indemnity for
the past and full security for the fu-
ture would be to dessert our allies and
! betray the hopes of freedom thruout
, the world.
I'VE hate war. 1t is brutal. the ne
| cation of everything for which we
| stand Therefore, we must prevent its
recurrence so far as is in our power.
J We desire to see the democra cies Of
| the world free to progress to their
highest ideals. To accomplish this
we must stand together for the des-
! truction of miltarism. the vindication
! of national right and liberty. the pun
| ishment of national wrong Be the
nations large or small. they must be
! free -