Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-25
TIME IS NOT RIPE
TO TALK OF PEACE
Sir Edward Grey Plainly Reiter-
ates That Position Of Allies
Is in No Way Changed.
AGREE TO ACT TOGETHER
Discusses Propriety of Employ
ing American Press as
a Platform"
AGREE TO ACT TOGETHER

LONDON. May 24.-Sir Edward Grey.
the British Foreign Secretary. in a
speech in the House OF Commons to-
da*. set aside al! ideas that peace
negotiations were probable AT the pras.
ent stage, and plainly reiterated tina,
the position of the entente allies was
in no way changed.
SIT Edwards impromptu address was
on the question OF peace and the pro-
priety OF employing the American
press as platform" subjects raised by
Arthur Ponsonby. Liberal member for
stirling. Scotland. in n strong address
attacking the government for allowing
diplomatic etiquette TO stand in the
way OF possible peace pourparlers.
Sir Edward declared that II was i'm
possible TO consider terms OF peace
without previous agreement between
the allies. Further. he expressed the
decided opinion that the hostili,ies had
not yet reached stage where II was
possible TO talk of peace, especially as
the German public vas continually
being fed with lies" by their minis
ters.
Mr. Ponsonby's reference to the use
Of the American press as platform
vas the outgrowth of a 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 10 Par
ilamcnt, argued that crisis might
arise during the war when considera
tions OF etiquette should not he allowed
to stand in the way. He contcnded
that. since German statesmen con-
stantly were giving interviews and
statements to the American press, 1,
would be mere pedantry which would
hinder British statesmen from counter
ing these statesments in the interests
OF their own country.
PONSONBY ARGUES AGAINST
OBLIGATIONS TO ALLIES
Mr. Ponsonhy argued in favor OF
commencing peace possibilities and
against pro!onging the war, merely for
the sake of obligations to Great Brit
aims allies. The speaker said that II
the war had TO be continued until Con-
stantinople fell, or until the unknown
obligations TO allies were fulflled. the
country ought 10 be told what those
obligations are. and il there was no
essential differences between Germany
and Great Britain and no such obliGa-
tions, the government ought to take
the earliest opportunity TO press for
termination OF the war.
Sir Edward Grey. in replying, said
IL ne thought the German government
or German opinion had reached the
point where the allied governments
could bring peace compat tible with
their desires nearer b. making speeches
about peace, he would make dozens OF
them. But. the Foreign Minister added.
that time has not yet arrived, and the
allies were bound by common obliga-
tionS not TO put forward any terms OF
peace except by mutual agreement.
The Foreign Secretary characterized
Chancellor Bethmann- -Hoilwee's recent
statement that Great Britain was pre-
pared 10 go 10 war over Bosnia as n
"hrst-class lie" The real reason for
the prolongat!on OF the war was that
the German government was con-
tinually telling their people that they
were winning the war, and that the
allies were beaten.
Sir Edward here made the declara-
tion that the time for peace had not
yet arrived. and that the entente allies
were under obligations not to act sepa-
rateiy on peace terms. He added if
any Of the allies had right to sneak
with regard 10 peace at the present
moment, IL was France, on whom the
furious attack OF Germany has been
concentrated.
FRANCE HAS FIRST RIGHT
TO SPEAK ABOUT PEACE
Sir Edward further said:
Through the long battle of verdun.
France is saving. not only herself but
her allies as we'll. If any one has a
right TO sneak about peace, it is
France. and President Poincare has
spoken. 1 believe 1t is the duty of
diplomacy To maintain the solidarity
of the allies and TO give the utmost
support TO the national and military
measures which are being taken by
the allies in common to bring the war
to stage it has not yet reached, In
which the prospect of maintaining an
enduring peace will be with the allies.
MT. Ponsonhy has hardly seemed to
realize that we were at war.
Il care not how often I say it: this
ing conference. Why was the con-
ference not accepted? Because there
was no good will
Sir Edward then added
II only wish the German and Aus
trian governments had published the
reports of their ambassadors as to the
part Great Britain played at the Balkan