New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
Declares That Peace at
This Stage of the
War Would Be
a Farce
Germany CANDLES
On u. S. Failure
British Premier in Full
Accord With War
Aims of President
Wilson

LONDON, Dec. 1f.-"I warn the ma
tion 20 watch the man who thinks there
is a halfway house between victory and
defeat. There is no such house."
Premier Lloyd George admonished the
nation to-day in a speech at a dinner
of the Grey's Inn Benchers. His re-
marks were accepted as the expected
reply to the opposition, which gathered
way after his announcement Of the
Paris conference and eliminated with
the publication OF Lord Lansdowne's
letter.
"These are the men," continued the
Premier, "who think the war can be
ended now by some sort of peace-tha
setting up of league OF nations with
conditions as to arbitration for dis.
Dutes and provisions for disarma-
ment, and with a covenant on the part
of all nations TO sign a treaty along
these lines.
THAT is the right policy after vie
tory. without victory it would be
farce. Who would sign such treaty?
| presume, among others. the people
who have so far successfully broken tho
last. Who would enforce the new
treaty? / presume the nations that
have so far not quite succeeded in en-
forcing the last.
Mr.. Lloyd George took the occasion
10 dispose of Lord Lansdowne's letter
advocating a compromise and to in
dorse President Wilson's statement Of
war aims almost in the same breath.
lie was glad. he said. that the letter
had been misunderstood, and that the
noble lord had expressed himself as in
agreement with President Wilson.
81 also" he declared, "agree with 1
President Wilson. and do not desire to
force controversy where none ex-
lists"
Strikes Optimistic Note
Touching on the general military
situation he struck an optimistic note
and found many underlying causes for
satisfaction.
"It is because | am firmly convinced
that, despite some untoward events, de-
spite discouraging appearances, we are
making steady progress toward the
goal" he affirmed, that would regard
peace overtures 20 Prussia, at the very
moment the Prussian military spirit is
drunk with boastfulness, as betrayal
of the great trust with which my col
leagues and myself have been
charged. Victory" Mr.. Lloyd George
added, was a question of tonnage, with
Germany now gambling upon Americas
failure to transport her army to Eu-
rope" The danger from Russis's de-
fection was still great. the Premier
said, "but every hour that passes will
see the gan filed by the valiant sons
of the great Republic"
"To end the war entered upon and
10 enforce treaty without reparation
for infringement Of that treaty merely
by entering into a more sweeping
treaty would, inded, be a farce in the
setting OF tragedy.
we are not mislcd by mere words
like disarmament, arbitration and SINH
lar terms. You cannot wage war or Sc
cure peace by mere words. We ought
never 20 have started unless we meant,
at all hazards 10 complete our task.
No Security Under Conditions
"Of course, our enemies are ready 70
accept a peace leaving them with some
OF the richest provinces and the tsir-
est cities of Russia in their pockets.
II is idle 70 .alk Of security under such
conditions. There is no protection for
life or property in a state where the
crimina. Is more powerful than tho
law. The law of nations Is no excep-
tion. We are dealing with n criminal
state now, and there will always be
criminal states until the reward Of in
ternational crime becomes too pre-
carious to make il profitable, and the
punishment Of international crime be-
comes too sure 10 make IL attractive.
I'VE are confronted with the aiterua.
;iyes OF abasing ourselves in terror
before the lawlessness which means
a tuC-
cessful bandits, or going through with
our task to establish a righteous and
lasting peace for ourselves and our
children. Surely no nation with any
regard for its self-respeet and any
aonor can hesitate moment in its
choice.
"lf there was no prospect Of things
going better the longer we fought 10
would be infamous 10 prolong the war,
but because | am fully convinced, de-
spite some untoward cYents and dis
couraging appearances, that we are
making steady progress toward the de-
sired goal, | would regard peace over
lures 20 Prussia at the very moment
when the Prussisn military spirit Is
drunk with boastfulness as betrayal
of the great trus. with which my coll
leagues ard | bave been charged.
THE German victories have been eri-
blaEoned TO the world, but her troubles
did not appear in the bulletins. How.
ever, We know something Of them. The