The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-05-25

the hostilities had not yet reached a
stage where it was possible to talk Of
peace, especially as the German public
was constantly being fed with lies !,
by their ministers.
Mr.. Ponsonby s references to the usa
of the American press as "pIa+
form was the outgrowth of a recent
interview with Sir Edward GREY. Sir
Edward in replying to this attack.
while admitting that important dis
closures of policy ought first to be
made to parliament, argued that a
crisis might arise during the war whom
considerations of etiquette should not
be allowed to stand in the wav. He
contended that since German states
men were constantly giving interviews
and statements to the American press
1t would be mere pedantry which wonld
hinder British statesmen from counter
ing these statements in the interests of
their own country.
Mr.. Ponsonby argued in favor Of
countenancing peace possibilities and
against prolonging the war merely for
the sake of obligations to Great Brit
ain s allies. The speaker said if the
war had to be continued until Constan-
tinople fell or until the unknown OBJ
legations to allies We're fulfilled the
country ought to be told what those
obligations were, and if there were no
essential differences between Germany
and Great Britain and no such oblioa-
tions, the government ought to take the
earliest opportunity to press for a ter
mination of the war.
Sir Edward Grey in replying pointed
out that his interview contained no
new declarations. He had no prepared
speech on statement to make. but he
said that if he thought the German
government or German opinion had
reached the point where the allied
governments could bring nearer a
peace comparable with their desires by
making speeches about peace he would
make dozens Of them. But the foreign
minister added that such a time had
not yet arrived and that the allies
were bound by common obligations not
to put forward any terms of peace ex-
cept by mutual agreement.
Mr.. Ponsonby, in the course of a
long speech. made strong attack on
the government S diplomacy. He said
the peace of Europe would depend on
the capacity of statesmen for surveying
the great problems in a broad spirit.
The insularity which had characterized
British diplomacy in the past con
stituted the real danger. he said The
government must recognize that the
war had reached deadlock, he
thought, and at the same time the SUI
perior position of Great Britain must
also he recognized. The latter was due
to the spirit and valor Of the people
and not to statesmen, said the speak
cr.
Rebuking Mr.. Ponsonbv for making
no allusion to Verdun, Sir Edward
said:
Through the long battle of Ver,lun
France is saving not only herself but
her allies as well. If any one has a
right to speak about peace it is France.
and President Poincaire has spoken. !
believe it IS the duty of diplomacy to
maintain the solidarity Of the allies
and give the utmost support to the
naval and military measures which are
being taken by the allies in common
to bring the war to stage it has not
vet reached and in which the prospect
of maintaining an enduring peace will
be with the allies Mr. Ponsonbv has
hardly seemed to realize that we were.
at war. 49, Z @