Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-20

London, Dec. 1s-Premier Lloyd George said in the house of commons today that it was felt that they should know before entering on negotiations that Germany was prepared to accede to the only terms whereupon it was possible for peace to be obtained and maintained in Europe. The premier said that without rep aration peace would be impossible. MT. Lloyd George said there were no proposals for peace. To enter into proposals of which they had no knowledge was to put their heads into a moose with the rope end in the hands of Germany.
 Much as they longed for it, the premier added, the central powers | note and the speech preceding it af- l forded small encouragement and hope for an honorable and lasting peace. "Okr answer will be given in full accord with our allies. Each of the allies has separately and independent | ly arrived at the same conclusion. Il am glad of the first answer given by France and Russia.
 | MT Lloyd George said the allies | would insist that the only end of the war must be a complete guarantee against Prussian militarisTn disturbing | the peace of Europe.
 Formal Reply in a Few Days. The formal reply of the allies the | premier announced will be given in
 the course of few days. The prem | fer said:
 we will await until we hear what
 terms and guarantees there are surer l than those which Germany broke. Meanwhile we put our trust in our un- l broken army"
 l After declaring that peace without
 reparation was impossible, the prem ] fer asked whether "all the outrages l on land and sea-" had been liquidat- , ed by "a few pious phrases about hu- l manity.'
 During the war the premier said, shipping would be nationalized in a true sense.
 | Will Recognize VenizeIos. Premier Lloyd George announced
 It had been decided to give recogni-
 ton to the agents of former Premier | Venizelos of Greece
 Il Dealing with the war situation the premier said he had to paint a stern l but not gloomy picture The Ru-
 manian blunder was an unfortunate
 nlanian blundert was an unfortunate one, but at the worst it only pro- longed the war and diG not affect it. It might have 9 salutary effect, he continued. in calling the attention of the allies to obvious defects of or ganization. To prevent the Ruman- ian situation from becoming worse ! they had taken strong action. In ] Greece they were taking no risks. l They had decided to recognize the | agents of Former Premier Veni-
 zelos.
 II Convinced of Ultimate Victory. Speaking of the western front Mr.
 Lloyd George referred to the growth 1 of the British armies there and con-
 tinued, T am convinced ultimate vic tory is sure if the nation shows the
 same spirit of endurance and readi-
 nc fn lno- fIn r{oS- les at the front"
 , Turning to the more purely politic- al of the domestic problems before l the new ministry, he said: We are anxious to avoid all controversial questions The functions of the prem fer and leader of the house of com
 mons have been separated because it was believed the double tasks were too much for one man. The organ
 iZation of the new cabinet is best
 adapted for the purpose, of war. In war you want prompt decision, and the allies have suffered disaster from tardiness of decision" The speech of Chancellor von Beth
 an-Hollweg before the German reichstag was characterized bv Mir. Lloyd George as constituting in sub
 stance denial of the only terms upon which peace was possible. The Food Problem ] u IHS 1OOu pEODlGIn, the premier said::
 "The main facts are plain. The har- vests of the United States and Can
 ada are failures and the Argentine
 promises badly. Russia is unavaila- l ble, and ou rown harvest is poor, while only three-eighths of the nor mal winter sowing has taken place,
 owing to bad weather. Under these
 circumstances the late government de- cided to appoint food controller l In reference to the Irish question the premier said
 Nothing Definite About Ireland.
 "I wish could say something defin- ite about Ireland. I already have had preliminary conferences regarding Ire-
 land and the cabinet will take the mat
 ter up. look upon an Irish settlement as a great and necessary war mat
 ter and a satisfactory solution would
 b ca great victory for the allied cause
 CT am convinced the Irish situation
 is @ misunderstanding, partly racial,
 partly religious"
 | The solution of the Irish problem 1 said the premier, was largely one of
 8 better atmosphere.
 "We shall ask men of all creeds and