Evening star., 1917-11-07
DENIES ALLIES AIMS
ARE |MPER|AL|ST|C
BaIfour Says Emancipation
and Security of Europe Are
Chief Purposes.
ANSWERS PEACE MOTION

By tho Associated Press.
LONDON, November IA. ]. Balfour,
secretary for foreign affairs. replying
in the house of commons to q peace
motion proposed by H B. Lees-Smith.
liberal member for Northampton, de-
clared:
THE aims for which Great Britain
entered the war were not and are not
either imperialistic or vindictive. but
one and all are needed for the double
purpose Of the emancipation and secur-
ity of Europe"
Mr.. Balfour asked the house to show
by an overwhelming majority that:
1--WE believe in the cause in which we
are struggling and which we know we
can bring to a successful termination.
Great as are the sacrifices al
ready made, we are ready to con-
tinue them, and continue them in
definitely. until the great. righteous
and unselfish objects we have in view
are finally secured"
Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor OF the
exohequer. amid loud cheers, moved
closure, which was carried. 2S2 to 33.
Mr.. Lees Smiths motion was then
negatived without division.
Ridicu1es Secret Treaty Idea.
In the course of his remarks Mr..
Balfour expressed the opinion that
discussions of this kind did little to
assist the object that those who start
ed them had in view-the attainment
of an honorable peace at the earliest
possible date. He ridiculed the idea
that secret treaties existed. as sug-
gested by Mr.. Lees-Smith. and declared
that Great Britain was not a party to
any such treaty. He did not believe
any such treaty existed.
He regretted that the member had
used such an argument. which. Of
course. would be repeated in Germany
without contradiction and which had
for it's basis that the allies aims were
not those they had loudly proclaimed
of freeing small nationalities and max
ing the constitution of the states in
Europe as far as possible harmonious
with the wishes of the inhabitants.
Would Restore Alsace-Lorraine.
TT never was, and is not, the object
of the allies to take from the German
empire admittedly German territory"
said Mr.. Balfour. But. of course, the
allies desire the restitution of Alsace-
Lorraine to France.
The allies. continued the secretary,
were not fighting for that alone, or as
an isolated object of their war aims.
we are fighting, in the first place."
said he. that Europe might be free
from the perpetual menace of the mill
tary party in Germany"
It was not Europe alone to be con-
sidered. he declared. and asked whether
the movers Of the amendment and their
party had no care for the misgovern-
ment and the most brutal and barbar-
Gus cruelty in Armenia and Arabia.
The pacif1st members seemed to think
that all these matters could be satis-
the European powers to talk together
around a table.
rs that common sense?" he asked
rs 1t supposed that Germany would
ever consent to restore, as has been
publicly suggested. the ancient king
dom of Poland? OF course, she would
not 1t is no use waiting to meet
Reveals Allied Purposes.
rs It imperialistic to desire to see an
Independent Poland? Is it trnperialistic
to desire to see Armenia released from
the tyranny Of Turkey? Is it imperialistic
to desire to see A1sace-Lorraine restored
to France? Is 1t imperialistic to desire to
see Italy embrace those of her own race,
civilization and language? Is 1t imperial
manian rule? Is it imperialistic to desire
to see the Serbian community gain great
and fiouriShing united power?
Mr.. Balfour declared that for members
of parliament to forget the official state
ments of the government about the war
aims of the allies and misrepresent them
in parliament, knowing that their misrep-
resentations would receive currency among
the allies enemies. WIS "one OF the
,