Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
FRENCH ANSWER
MADE BY P|CHON
BEFORE CHAMBER
His Clear-Cut Statement
Thrills by Its Fearless
Directness.
LLOYD GEORGE DlSPELS
ALL DOUBTS IN BRITAIN
Meanwhile, in Both Countries,
Organized Labor Is in Mo-
mentous Conferences.
BEAR DIRECTLY on WAR AIMS
but Indorsc President Wilson's
Recent Speech.

LONDON December oS.--"No!" came
the defiant echo from both Britain and
France 10 tho central powers latest
Christmas bid for peace.
Premier Lloyd Georges reply, which
came in tho form Of letter TO tho
labor conference now sitting, was in
direct, but clear enough to dSpel all
doubts OF Britain's resolve to fight TO
the finish until the future freedom
and peace OF mankind" arc achieved.
France. through her Foreign Min
lister. NJ ricnon. gave n clcar-cut. spc-
ciic answer that thrilled the French
chamber by its fearless directncSs.
Never. SAID he, will France consent
10 return to tho status quo ante
hellum. Franco has been suffering
too much for that. Above all, she
must nave .Alsacc-Lorrain back. I'm
deferred BY Ru#si;is detection, checred
by Americas whoichcartcd aid. she
will fight TO tho end. IL the foe has
any Offers to make, lc: him do SO
directly. not through a Boishcviki back
Goor. Such. in substance. was NJ Pi-
ch"n's reply TO Count Won Czernin'a
Brcst Litovsli speech.
Meanwhile. both in Britain and in
France, organized labor is assembled
in momcntous conferences bearing di-
rcctly on allied war and peace aims
Both urged to-day an immediate cS-
ulicit restatcmcpt Of these aims. Eoth
indorsed heartily President Wilson's
war aims AS set forth in his recent
speech before Congress. The French
labor congress at The samc time ap-
proved OF tho aims cnunciated by the
Russian Socialists. II made no men
ton Of .Nsace- lorraine. which, NJ.
"ich"n reiterated to-day, is Frances
'conditio sine qua nom for peace.
GERMANY'S AUTOCEACY MUST
WELD TO DEMOCRACY
At the British labor congress, Ar
thur Henderson said:
The allies must rcnouncc their in
tention OF creating an impcnctrable
barrier against the German people.
GerinanyS autocracy must give place
to democracy. M.iitarism must be uni
verSaliy discrcditcd.
Labor must demand Il Qualification
or Brit2in'S position il the workers
are called on for further aacrifices''
thus. OF the face of things, there
appeared TO be 4 divergence between
Anglo French labor and governments.
but actually there is nothing in tho
situation that could give the central
powers comfort. much AS it may seem
so on the surface.
This docs not mean the white feath-
cr, said Henderson. in the course OF
his speech. British and French or.
EaniZcd labor has no thought of Dlay-
ing the gutter. All 1t wants is
clear. specific statement Of what will
! constitute victory IL feels that once
this bill OF particulars has been set
will bring home with fun force to tho
German pcoplc the tranScendent fact
that it is the crushing of militarism
that tho allies are lighting for. and
not the crushing and disincmberment
OF the central powers as nations"
HOPEFUL HINT no I.Anon
IN LLOYD GEORGES I.ETTrsR
In Lloyd Georges icttcr TO the Erit.
! ish trades and labor union orEaniza-
tion there was hopeful hint that
the allied governments fully realize
the justice of lahor's demand for new
confession OF faith.
The question Of a fresh declaration
of our war aims" wrote the Premier.
sis constantly kept in view" lie add
ed. however. that such declaration
will only lie issued in agreement with
our allies"
lie continued
The ideals for which we are row
fighting arc the same ~ when Great
Britain cntc'<si- the Fwar.
Il have never shcass moro convinced
than now that q.Te purpose Of the al
lies IN continuing the war are not
imrerial!siic nor vindictivc. but to
achieve tho future freedom and pcaco
Of mankind"
II was the demand for surh a dis
avowal OF aims Of conquest that Hen
derson pl?ccd in the forefront. of his
address. He attacked Sir Edward car
son for treating With scorn and con-
tempt the proposal for a League OF
nations. wnich henderson added Was
"America'S fighting inspiration" moro
than anything else.
Henderson d@piorcd allied failure TO
deal with ria-llunSaty and yur-
key in the Same way as the Teuton.
are now dealing with Russia. Bo;h
these central allies. he added, do NOT
want to continue" lie suggested tha.