Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-24
ALLIES NOT READY
TO DISCUSS PEACE
TERMS, SAYS GREY
But Welcome Any Efforts
by Neutrals to Prevent
Future Wars.
MUST HAVE GUARANTEES
THAT PEACE is SECURE
Entente Countries, Together and
Not Separately, Will State and
Formulate Conditions.
DAILY, VICTORY is NEARER
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Speaks
at Luncheon Given by Foreign
Press Association.
MUST HAVE GUARANTEES
THAT PEACE is SECURE
DAILY, VICTORY IS NEARER
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Speaks
at Luncheon Given by Foreign
Press Association.
IBy Associated Press J

LONDON. October 23.-Another inn
portant contribution 10 the discussions
on peace was made by Viscount Grey
Secretary for Foreign Affairs. at a
luncheon given to-day by the Foreign
i'ress Association. at which the diplo-
matte representatives, of all the allied
Countries were present
The Foreign Secretary made il plain
that the allies were not prepared TO
DISCUSS peace terms. and gave no in
dication OF what their terms might be-
but welcomed any efforts by neutral
countries for q combination to prevent
future wars.
Il would like to talk. not indeed
about actual conditions of peace which
can only be stated and formulated by
the allies together. and not by any
one Of them separately. but about the
general objects which the allies must
secure In this war" said the secretary
and 20 do that I would ask you to
recall that must never forget how
the war came about. II we are to
approach peace in a proper spirit 1t
can only be by recollecting and recall
Ing and never FOR moment forget
ting what was the real cause OF the
war.
go back over that old ground now:
everybody knows it
You cannot 20 back to 1t too often:
Il Affects the conditions Of peace. Ger
many talks OF peace; her statesmen
talk OF peace to-day. They say, Ger
many tnust have guarantees against
being attacked again
LOGICAL If WAR HAD
BEEN FORCED on GERMANY
''If this war had been forced upon
Germany that would be n logical
statement. 1t is precisely because It
was not forced upon Germany. but was
forced by Germany upon Europe that
II Is the allies who must have Suaran-
F, tees for future peace.
In July. 1914 no one thought of
attacking Germany. 1t Is said that
Russia was the first to mobilize That
7 understand. is wha, is reported in
Germany as justification for the state
mcnt that the war was not an aggres-
sive war on Germany's part, but was
forced upon her.
Russia never made the mobilization,
of which Germany has complained, un-
til after Germany refused confer
encc, and never made il until after the
report appeared in Germany that Ger
that report had been telegraphed to
Petroerad.
The whole plan of campaign of the
German staf was to attack through
Belgium, and now 1t Is reported that
they had to attack through Belgium
because other people had planned to
attack through Belgium. l would like
nothing better than to see those state
ments that Russias mobilization was
an aggressive one. and that other
powers, any other power had traficked
in the neutrality of Belgium or
planned an attack through Belgium
1 would like to see those statements
investigated before any independent,
impartial tribunal
German organization is very sue
ccssful in some things. but in nothing
more successful than in preventing the
truth from reaching their people. and
in presenting to them n point OF view
which is not that of truth"
GERMANY REFUSES
TO ATTEND CONFERENCE
Sir Edward said that when England
proposed Il conference, Germany re-
fused to participate. though Russia,
France and Italy were ready to accept.
and that Germany had also refused the
offer of The Hague tribunal, made by
the CZar.
"All efforts to avoid the war i'm 1914
failed" he continued, because you can
not have peace without good will, and
because i'm Germany there WAS will
to war and not the will to peace.
I'VE were asked by Germany to re-
main neutral on certain conditions.
We were asked to condonc the viola
ton OF the neutrality OF Belgium, and
to give Germany n free hand to take
whatever French colonies she liked.
That was the pan-not only to isolate
us. but to discrcdit us.
81 ask any neutral what would have
been the future of this country If the
British government had accepted such
an offer. There would have, been no
morale, no spirit, no nation. We
should have incurred the contempt of
the whole world Happily. tactics so
gross did not succeed.
IL take it, on the word of the Prime
Minister that we shall fight until we
have established the supremacy and
right of free development under equal
conditions. each in accordance with
its genius, of all states, great and
small, as family Of civilized man
kind"
Passing TO the position of tho neu-
trail countries. Viscount Grey said. in
answer to n question as to what they
could do:
IL believe tho best work neutrals
can do for tho moment Is to try to
prevent war like this from happen
ing again. If tho nations had been
united In such an agreement and
prompt resolution in 1914. that tho dis
y - 1ContiniIe1- ON Second Pa0el -