Arizona republican., 1917-07-27
PEACE RESOLUTION
 |S DISCUSSED IN
 HOUSE OF COMMONS
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1


 LONDON, July 26.-The house of commons, after employing the whole evening session in a discussion of a peace resolution moved by James Ram say Macdonald, socialist and labor member, defeated it by vote of 14S to 19. The announcement of the figures was received with some cheers and much laughter. The conviction was voiced by Herbert H. Asquith. the for mer premier, that nothing was to be hoped from the present temper of the German rechstag and people.
 George James Wardle, in behalf of the labor party, declined to have any thing to do with this pacifist resolution.
 The speech of Andrew Bonar Law. the government leader in the house, dealt largely with tthe Russian crisis He was certain tha, If anything could delay peace it would be any sign of faltering.
 Philip Snowden, socialist, said the debate disclosed that the British gov ernment. more than any other belliger- ent, was standing in the way of an early settlement. He protested against more blood being shed to restore Alsace, Lorraine to France
 The resolution declaring that the German reichstag resolution favoring peave by an understanding, expressed the princip.es for which Great Britain stood throughout, and calling on the government in conjunction with the entente allies, to re-state their peace terms accordingly. Further, the reso- lution declares that the allies should accept the Russian proposal that the forthcoming allied conference on the war aims should comprise represen- tatives of the people and not solely spokesmen of the government
 MT Macdonald agreed that his reso- lution expressed the opinion of only a small minority, but he contended that the minority was ever growing.
 Charles P. Trevelyan, who seconded the resolution agreed in condemning the uncertainty in the speech of the German chancellor, MT. Michaelis, and said that they were all agreed that peace awaited the restoration of Bel gium and France. without any econo- mic or other conditions. He also doubt ed whether there could be peace until all the governments clearly and eX- pressly repudiated thu ideal of conquest or anneXations. It was the duty of the house of commons to reply to the reichstag resolution. Former Premier Asquith thought that the previous speakers attached more importance to the reichstag eso.ution than it de- served.
 Peace, said Mir Asquith, should be- come the supreme interest of mankind but subject to an all-important ccndi- 1 tion, namely, that it is a peace which does not defeat the purpose for which the great nations entered upon and have continued the ear, and that il | does not turn to waste the immeasur- 1 able loss and suffering which they had | shared and are sharing in common. "The principle clearly agreed to by l everyone of the alies,' said the for mer premier. is that in any rear rangement made by governing prin- ciple ought to be the interest and tho wishes of the populations affected. Bu 1 is that principle acceptable to the cen 1 tral powers? Is Germany prepared no only to evacuate Belgium, but to make reparation for the colossal mischief anC l patton and the practical enslavemen of a large portion of the Belgian peo pie? Is she prepared not only to d' that but fo restore to Belgium, not ; pretense of. but absolute independence
 q should like to know the German answer to theseN questions. 1 find n' answer in the vague formulae in thu reichstag.
 MT. Asquith thought the German pee pie was the greatest obstacle to peace but said that was matter for tn German people themselves. So far a the allies were concei ned, the best hop of pace, he said, was frank and opel statement both by way of avowal ss1t ] disavoWal of the objects for which the, were fighting and as means to tha end he welcomed the fullest use of a' opportunities for an interchange O view between representatives of tn great democracies It could not be to' clearly stated that this was a matte i for the people rather than the govern ments.
 "Once that is realized by the demo racies of the world" he continued, w shall be within measurable sight of al honorable and lasting peace. Mean i white we shall not be helping the ad vent of peace if we give the impression that there is any faltering in our de termination. We look up with clea l conscience until our ends ar achieved