Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-22
Premier Lloyd George Assails
German Chance|Ior's Speech
as One of Mere Sham.
WILL NOT MAKE PEACE
WITH AUTOCRATIC NATION
Denies Britain Can Be Beaten by
U-Boats-Thinks Military Party
Has Won Day in Kaiserland.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 21.-The British prime
minister, David Lloyd George, speaking
at a great patriotic demonstration in
Queep's Hall this afternoon in commem-
Grafton of Belgian independence day,
characterized the speech of the German
chancellor, DR.. Georg Michaelis, as a
mere sham, facing all ways, and de-
clared that he did not want the Ger
mans "to harbor any delusions that they
are going to put Great Britain out of
this fight until liberty has been re-es-
tablished throughout the world"
Great Britain could make peace with
free Germany, but with Germany
dominated by autocracy, declared the
premier, there never could be peace.
The Germans, said the premier, were
making the same mistake in underesti-
mating Americas efforts in the war as
they had made about Great Britain in
the beginning.
"They said we wouldn't fight" con-
tinued Mr.. Lloyd George, "and if we did,
we couldn't. We had no army and we
couldn't raise one and they need not
worry about Britain. I think they have
discovered their mistake about us, and
now they are just going through the
sana nrocess with America
Knows Not America.
"I want to put this to them: II Great
Britain, not a very large country. while
she is maintaining and equipping and
even building up equipment for an
army of millions afield and In reserve IN
fell fighting array; while she Is maintain
ing the largest navy In the world. can Or
ganize in the third year of an exhausting
war to turn out millions of tons of
new shipping. Is America. with twice
the population Of this country, with
endless natural resources, going to be
beaten merely because she puts forth
no effort? The man who talks like that
knows not America; otherwise he would
not say it."
Referring directly to the German
chancellor's sneering remark that
America has no ships and no army, and
"
have no ships to bring 1t across the
sea, the premier said: He knows Amer
lea Just as little as the Germans know
Great Britain"
See Sham Independence.
Far from being starved by the u
boats, Mr.. Lloyd George declared, Great
Britain's food supply for 1918 was
already secured: production was in
creasing and losses at sea were dimin-
tshing. He had sought in the chancel-
lor's speech for something from which
he could hope for the ending of the
bloody struggle.
sham independence for Belgium. sham
democracy for Germany. a sham peace
for Europe. and / say that Europe has
not sacrificed millions of her gallant
sons to set up a sanctuary for sham"
A great crowd had gathered in the
expectation that the premier would re-
ply to the German chancellor's speech
and his utterances were greeted at
times enthusiastically.
Phrases for Everybody.
Mr. Lloyd George asked what hope
there was In the chancellor's speech of
peace.
the only possible peace" he said. TT Is
dexterous speech. facing g-all-ways
speech. There are phrases for those
who earnestly desire peace. many of
them. but there are phrases which the
military powers of Germany will un-
derstand, phrases about making the
frontiers of Germany secure. That's
the phrase which annexed Alsace-Lor-
raine: that's the phrase which has
drenched Europe in blood since 1914:
that's the phrase-if they dare-that
will annex Belgium and Courland; that's
the phrase which will once more precipi-
tate Europe into a weller of blood within
a generation unless that phrase is wiped
out by the craftsmanship of Europe.
Waiting on Military Issue.
There are phrases for men of demo-
cratic minds. but there are phrases to
satisfy the iunkers. and there are other
phrases which mean nothing. 1t is the
speech of a man waiting on the mill
tary issue. 1t is speech that may be
made better by improving the military
situation. and If the Germans win in
the west. If they destroy the Russian
army in the east. If the Turks drive
Great Britain out of Mesopotamia. and
IL the U-boats sink more merchant
ships, then that speech, believe me,
means annexation all around and mill
tary autocracy more firmly established
than ever.
What manner OF government the
Germans choose to rule over them Is
entirely a matter for the German peo-
pie themselves. But as to what man.
ner of government we can trust to
make peace, that is our business. De-
mocracy is in itself a guarantee of peace.
but If II cannot be got In Germany
then we must secure other guarantees
as a substitute.
Military Party Winner.
The speech of the German chancellor