New Britain herald., 1917-07-31
GERMANY FREE OR
P0WERLESS, PRICE
War Cannot End Until Then,
Says A. ]. Baliour

4 ,
brought on by criticism of Lord
Robert Cecils recent statement that
the dismem berment of Austria was not
one Of Great Britain's war aims, led
to an important statement by A. ].
Balfour, the foreign secretary. Mr.
Ralfour said that British war aims
need not be restated with complete
definiteness now, but he did not think
the peace OF Europe could be secured
unless Germany were made either
powerless or free.
John Amman Bryce, liberal. began
the objections to Lord Robert CeciIs
statement. fIe said it would create
difficulties because Great Britain's en-
gagements with her allies could not be
continued if the Austrian empire
We're to be maintained. Italy, on the
strength Of these engagements, Mr..
y Bryce said, would not be content
merely with a arrangement Of the
Irentino region.
Noel Buxton said that an unfor-
tunate impression had gotten abroad
in Europe as a result of the speeches
in the house of commons last week
that Great Britain favored q policy Of
annexation, but would not define her
aims.
Mr.. Balfour, in replying. said that
- the government had been asked to de-
clare its policy, but he was not sure
that would be a wise course. The
broad questions animating the govern
ment had been expounded by the late
and present premiers. the foreign Sec
rotary and others who held high
office during the last three years.
When every ministerial statement was
~ treated as q pledge. it was dangerous
to accede to requests for definite an
nouncenl ents
With respect to the Jugoslav and
Austrian question. said the secretary.
it was impossible TO foretell the posi-
ton in which the world would find it
self when these problems came to be
decided, and he would be doing a very |
i'll service to the country were he to |
attempt to define the position now
The government believed that the ma
tionalists composing that heterogene- |
Gus state should be allowed to develop |
along their own lines and to carry on |
their G. ization in their own way.
Entered War to Defend Belgium.
las every body knows continued
M. Balfour, we entered the war to
defend Bel Y and prevent France
from beinT ned before our eyes.
Nobody wi smallest knowledge
of the acts ,osed that Sir Edward
Grey, formerly Foreign Secretary
and the government. of which he was
a member when he made the fateful
declaration on Aug. 8, 1914, made 1t
with the smallest thought of the great
problems which the course of the war
; has opened up.
I'VE did not enter the war for any
selfish purposes; certainly not for i'm
perialist aims or to get lndemnitles.
Our purposes were completely unself.
ish. Therefore we stood in a differ
ent position from any of our allies.
We hoped to see Europe freer and
more stable
D., If France asked it, he failed to see
how Great Britain could refrain from
going on to assist her until she got
back to the position which existed be- !
fore the attack engineered against
her by Bismark in 1871. namely that
she obtain restoration of that which
she was violently robbed more than
forty years ago.
Mr.. Balfour expressed an opinion
which was simply his own when he
said that if France asked for Alsace-
Lorraine Great Britain should sup
port her, but he declared that
France was not fighting for Alsace-
Lorraine alone; she was fighting for
her very existence.
The questions the house had dis
cussed were occupying the attention
Of the whole civilized world almost
to the exclusion OF every other sub
ject.
AS to the characterization Of Ger
many, said the secretary, it had been
hoped that autocracy would give |
place TO parliamentary institutions as
they are understood, but nobody was |
foolish enough to suppose that it would !
: be possible to impose on Germany a |
constitution made outside Of Ger !
many. Until Germany either !
made powerless or free, he did not !
think the peace of Europe could be !
securad. The fight must go on, for if !
this war ended with a German peace. |
that would only he a prelude to a new !
European war. If the peace were to
be one that England and America, |
which had no interests on the con-
tinent, could approve, then it would
lead to permanent settlement.
which void in turn conduce to that
great understanding of the nations.
which would give Europe security it
had never known before.
Must Work Out Own Salvation.
Germany must work out her own
y salvation,' continued Mr. Balfour.
You do not mend matters by impos-
ing a constitution, even if you have
the power. Nations must make their
scheme of liberty for themselves, &C
cording to their own ideas, and based
on their history, character and hopes. |
But if it is true that the great !
power Of German imperialism is still
depending upon the belief-the belief
driven into the German nation by the
wars of 1865 and 1S70-that only
under the imperial system can Ger