The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-12-01
.LANSDONNE' s
LETTER NOV
CONDEMNED
Unionists Back War Policy
OF Lloyd George
DENOUNCED BY PRESS
Publication Of Marquis's Personal
Views at This Time Termed
Disaster.

london, Nov. 2O.-The Evening
News says that at a representative
meeting of the Unionist party today
Chancellor Bonar Law very strongly
Yepudiated Lord Lansdowneis letter,
describing 1t as a disaster"
The Chancellor further declared
that the views expressed by Lord
I4ansdowne were not the views of
any OF, his colleagues either in the
Cabinet or out OF It. A strongly word
ed resolution condemning the publica
ton OF the letter was adopted at the
meeting and cabied TO Paris to the
lnter-Allied conference now being
held there.
Chancellor Bonar Law in his ad-
dress pointed out that Lansdowne
had no Official position in the party
whatever and that he spoke entirely
for himself. This pronouncement was
received by the meeting with the
greatest approval and constituted All
oficiai and definite "repudiation Of
tho n,ischievous trend OF the letter.
The meeting was attended by Sir
Edward Carson, head Of the War
Aims Committee; Walter Hume Long
secretary of state for the colonies;
vtscount Chaplin and delegates from
every part Of the country
An authorized report concerning
the Uriprtst nneeting of today says it.
VAS attended by 1b0U Representatives
OF Unionist bodies throughout the
country and that resolutions we're
carried deploring the publication of
the letter OF the Marquis Of Lans-
Howne, Declaring firm adherence to
the war aims OF the Allies as defined
by the Premier, Mr.. Bonar Law and
Mrs. Asquith. 1t was decided that the
resolutions should be. wired to the
Premier and Mr.. Balfour in Paris.
A scene Of great enthusiasm ensu-
ed. the delegates rising and singing
tho national anthem. Mr.. Bonar
Law then delivered speech in
which he admitted that he never had
mot anyone more patriotic or disin-
terested than the Marquis of Lans-
hovne. Nevertheless Mr.. Bonar Law
said u disagree absolutely not on
ly with the arguments but with the
whole tone of the letter. I think 1t
ia. nothing less than a. national mis-
fortune that II should have been pub
hshed, now at all times. 1t is not
that We do not desire peace. II is
horrible to look forward to a continu-
auce OF the war; but it is a strange
assumption that, because the Germans
declare their readiness for a pact OF
nations and talk Of disarmament,
peace therefore is possible.
Before the war our Government
did not dare suggest disarmament to
Germany They often went near it
but the Germans regarded it as a
casus belli. And before the war
books recommending disarmament
were prohibited In Germany and be-
lieve they are prohibited to this day"
Lord Robert Cecil. minister OF
blockade, in his weekly talk with the
Associated Press today declared en-
phatically that the Marquis of Lans-
downe, in writing letter contain
ing peace suggestions was not speak
ing for any important body of opin-
ion in England.
The most important thing to say
in regard to Lansdowne's letter."
Lord Robert said, 'is that he spoke
only for himself Before writing it.,
he did not consult or have any com
munication with any member Of the
Government and the members of the
Government read the letter in the
newspapers with as much surprise
as anybody else,
ut does not represent our views,
nor has there been any change or
modification in the slightest degrees
in the war policy of this country.
Our policy is still what it always
has been and as described by the au-
thori2ed spokesmen of the country
namely, Premier Lloyd George, AS
quite. Bonar Law and Balfour. 1t
has been put In different words by
them but perhaps is best summed up
in the recent utterance of Premier
Clomenceau--that the war aim for
which we are fighting is victory"
DE sAuLLEs TRIAL NEAR END