Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-20

London, Dec. 19.-The announcement In the house of commons today by David Lloyd George, the new prime minister, that the first act of his ad- ministration was the rejection of the proposal of the central powers for peace conference, constituted one of the most momentous scenes which the oldest parliamentary veterans had ever witnessed.
 The new premier declared that be- fore the allies could give favorable consideration to such an invitation, they must know that Germany was prepared to accede to the allies terms irving complete restitution, full re- paration and effectual guarantees" and 'to enter a conference upon the invitation of Germany, proclaiming herself victorious, without any knowl- edge of her proposals would be put ting our heads into a moose with the end of the rope in Germany's hands.
 Dragging 5eIsians Into Slavery.
 Mir. Lloyd George assersS5 that at. Jhdr moment Germany was penning the note. asserting her convictions as to the rights of other nations, she was dragging Belgians into slavery. He announced that the note presented through Washington contained no pro- poSa1s of terms, but was a paraphrase of Chancellor von Bethmann- Holl- weg's speech and that the allies had bcpdLdtcly COuCluueu LO r6JeCL IL, al- though though they had informally exchanged views and would within a few days present a joint reply.
 Asquith Stands With Lloyd George.
 MT. Asquith, the former premier. seconded MT. Lloyd Georges decision with even stronger words and almost at the same moment Earl Curzon was informing the lords that the govern ment would enter no conference that did not guarantee for Europe the free and independent existence of nations great and small. The Marquis of Crewe affirmed the approval of the members of the late government.
 Important Day in the Commons.
 The day was a doubly important one for the commons, because the new premier unfolded his programme for wfde-reaching war measures and MT. Asquith closed the last chapter of his nine years of leadership with an ac- counting of his war stewardship.
 The principal feature of MT. Lloyd Georges programme is measure for national service matching Germany's latest scheme, whereby every citizen will be liable for enrolment, to per form work for which the authorities consider him best equipped
 Arthur Neville Chamberlain, mayor of Birmingham, and a member of the famous family whose energy and bus mess capacity are rated high. will be director of the national service, with civil and military directors responsi- ble to him.
 The premier prefaced his review of the situation by the statement that Britons did their best in time of dan- ger, that a country should be told un- pleasant facts and that he would give, not dark, but a stern view of the outlook, and continued:
 Greatest War Ever Waged.
 'Tt is the greatest war ever waged; the burdens are the heaviest that have been cast upon this or any other coun- try and the issues the gravest that have been attached to any conflict in which humanity was ever involved.
 The responsibilities of the new gov- ernment have been suddenly accentu- ated by the declaration made by the German chancellor. The statement made by him in the reichstag has been followed by note presented by the United States without note or com ment. The answer given by this gov ernment will be given in full accord with all our allies.
 Naturally there has been an inter- change of views, not upon the note, be- cause it has only recently arrived, but upon the speech which impelled it and as the note itself is practically only h reproduction or paraphrase of the speech, the subject matter of the note Itself has been discussed informally between the allies. I am glad to be able to state that we each separately Lnd independently arrived at identical conclusions.
 France and Rusia First to Answer.
 'I am very glad that the first answer given to the statement of the German Chancellor was given by France and Rusaia They have the ilDuuestiona bIa right to give the first answer to such an invitation. The enemy is still on .heir soil and their sacrifices have been the greater.
 "Ti1e answer they have given already appeared in the papers, and I simply Itand here to give clear and definite upport to the statement they have llready made.