Evening star., 1916-12-22
Based on Victories in War.

Not this nation alone. but the neutral
nations, will, 1 hope, understand the
position at which We have now arrived.
Germany has made peace proposals. On
what basis? On the basis of her vic
torious armies. Is there a man who
considering the conditions under which
this war was forced on us and the con-
ditions under which the has been
carried on, honestly believes that the
dangers and insecurities from which we
have suffered can be cured in any way
than but by making the Germans realize
that frightfulness does not pay, that
militarism is not going to rule the
world?
What are we fighting for? Not ter
ritory, not greater strength as a nation.
We are fighting for two things for
peace now and for security for peace in
time to come. Let the house remember
that what has happened in this war
outrages In Belgium. outrages by sea
and land, massacres in Armenia which
Germany could have stopped by word
then realize this: The war viii have
been fought in vain, utterly in vain,
never again be in the power of any
state to do what Germany has done.
"Shall Crime Go Unpunished?"
rs peace to come in this war on the
basis that the greatest crime in the
worlds history is to go absolutely un-
punished? 1t is my firm belief that un-'
less all the nations in the world can
be made to realize that these moral
forces must be vindicated there never
can be an enduring peace.
II am not afraid. / am sure our troops
will fight to the end. If the people at
home. who up to now have made few
sacrifices, except the sacrifice Of those
dear to them. are determined in this
matter. and if they believe that the
objects for which they are fighting can
be secured. then there is no sacrifice we
are not prepared TO make"
1ndorses Lloyd George Speech.
Sir John A Simon. on behalf of him
Lloyd Georges speech on peace.
1T may be desirable, in view of past
events" he said. ito make quite plain
in few sentences how universal and
| widespread is the acceptance in all sec
! tions of opinion in all parts of the
country Of the premiers declaration in
reply to the German message The
premier told US plainly that in no
proper sense of the word was the com
rnunication received from Germany a
peace proposal at ALL
proposals involve propositions ana
| 1t is misuse of language to talk about
a message containing suggestion of
| terms as a proposal. If indeed the mes
sage had contained terms even unac-
ceptable or impossible terms, il would
receive clear and specific answer
Addressing German People.
| IF in times like these any belligerent
| comes forward with the profession of
a desire for peace and puts forward
1 reasonable terms everything is to be
gained from every point of view by
/ testing the sincerity of his declara-
| ton, But the only declaration received
! from Germany was d mere paraphra Sc
/ of Won Rethmann Hol1weg's speech in
i the reichstag. without even an outline
OF the terms. IL is obvious that the
: chancellor then was addressing TO the
: German people. A communication OF
I that sort Is not a peace proposal at all
3 fhe premier has not slammed the
door on peace; he has pointed out that
7 any discussion without some previous
be a delusion and sham, | believe
that nobody in this country could Sc
riously expect any other reply than
! that which the premier has given
My resignation from the late gov
ernment vas due to differences as TO
! the methods whereby we could pro-
cure her maximum strength; there was
no difference with regard to the war.
/ The premier has spoken the views
| and the mind of the whole nation. We
| are all agreed that. firstly. 1t would be
an unpardOnable crime for any govern
ment to allow war TO continue for a
! single unnecessary hour. and, second.
Il would be the deepest treachery to
:alter in securing. by force of arms If
3 ueed be, or by more reasonable meth =
DDS when the opportunity comes. those
'biects-essentially defensive and un-
aggressive-for which We entered the
war"