Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-25
Employment of U. S. Press
as Platform for Pourpar-
lers Out of Question.
MAKES IMPROMPTU
SPEECH IN COMMONS
Replies to Arthur Pom
sonby; Conflict Hasn't
Reached Peace Stage.

IT ONDON. Mag 24.-U0:35 p. m.)-
l. In an imprOmptu speech in the
house Of commons tonight on the
question of peace and the propriety of
employing the American press as a
platform" subjects Unexpectedly
raised by Arthur Ponsonby, Liberal
member for Stirling, Scotland. in u
strong address attacking the govern
ment tor allowing diplomatic etiquette
to stand in the way of possible peace
pOurparlers, Sir Edward Grey, the
British foreign secretary. set aside all
ideas that peace negotiations were
possible at the present stage and
plainly reiterated that the position of
the allies was in no way changed. Sir
Edward declared it was impossible to
consider terms of peace within pre-
viOus agreement between the entente
allies. Further he expressed the de-
cided opinion that the hOstilities had
not yet reached stage where it was
possible to talk of peace, especially
as the German public was constantly
being fed with lies" by their minis
ters.
Mr.. Ponsonby's reference to "the
use Of the American press as plat
form" was the OutgrOwth OF a re-
cent interview with Sir Edward Grey.
Sir Edward. in replying to this at
tack, while admitting that import
ant disclosure of policy ought first to
be made to parliament, argued that
a crisis might arise during the war
when considerations Of etiquet should
not be allowed to stand in the way.
He contended that since German
statesmen constantly were giving in
terviews and statements to the
American press, 1t would be mere
pedantry which would hinder British
statesmen from countering these
statements in the interests Of their
own country.
What Are AbrogatiOns?
Mr.. Ponsonby argued in favor Of
cOuntenancing peace possibilities and
against prolonging the war merely for
the sake of obligations to Great Brit
aims allies. The speaker said that
IL the war had to be continued until
Constantinople fell or unit! the un-
known obligations to allies were full
filled, the country ought to be told
what those obligations are. and IL
there was no essential differences be-
tween Germany and Great Britain
and no such obligations, the govern
ment ought to take the earliest op-
pOrtunity to press for a termination
of the war.
Sir Edward Grey. in replying.
pointed out that his interview con-
tained no new declarations. He had
no prepared speech or statement to
make. but said il he thought the
German government or German opin-
ion had reached the point where the
allied governments could bring a
peace compatible with their desires
nearer by making speeches about
peace, ne would make dozens of them.
But the foreign minister added the
time has rot yet arrived and the al
lies were bound by common oblj"a-
tions not to put forward any terms
of peace except by mutual agree
ment.
Attacks Policy.
Mr.. Ponsonby strongly attacked the
governments diplomatic policy. He
said the peace of Europe would de-
pend on the capacity of statesmen for
surveying the great problems in a
broad spirit. The insularity which had
characterized British diplomacy in the
past constituted the real danger. The
government must realize that the war
had reached a deadlock and at the
same time the superior position of
Great Britain also must be recognized.
The latter was due to the spirit and
valor of the people and not to states
men. The speaker said he hoped the
statesmen were not going to imperil
the situation by delay and ineptitude.
Nothing had helped Germany more
than the extreme lingo utterances of
responsible statesmen. They had en-
abled Prussianism to keep Germany
together. Mr.. POnsOnby said recrimi-
nations must cease. He considered II
wanting in respect to the British peO-
pie for the ministers to disregard par
Lament and adopt the American press
as a platform.
The war would never end. Mr.. Pom
sonby continued, IL Great Britain
waited until Sir Edward Grey and DR..
Won Hollweg (the German imperial
chancellor) agreed as to who was re-
sponsible for IL. Had Germany re-
fused to restore Belgium, evacuate
France and Serbia and form an In
dependent Poland. had she refused to
agree to form an international council
TO maintain European peace. Mr.. Pom
sonby asked II she had refused these
things, the country ought TO be told
James -Ramsay Mcdonald. labor
member. supported Mr.. Ponsonby. He
declared that peace was a political
and not a military problem and that
II was the duty of the government to
state the terms on which it was pre-
pared to conclude peace.
A First Class Inc.
Sire Edward Grey in the course Of
his speech characterized Chancellor
Won Bethmann-Hollweg's recent state
ment that Great Britain was prepared
10 go to war over IiOsnia as IA first
class iie." The real reason for the
prolon CATION OF the wal was that the
German government was continually
telling their people that they were
Winning the war and that the allies
were beaten.
STR Edward here made the deciar-
alton that the time for peace had not
ye; arrived and that the entente al