New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-23
THINKS STRUGGLE
VILE END IN FALL
Refuses to Comment Di-
rectly on Wilson's
Peace Speech

There will be no end to this war
without victory to the Allies" he said.
His tone was resonant with conyic-
ton rs Sir Gilbert, who is a leading
spokesman for the Lloyd George Cabi-
net. proclaimed the faith of his nation.
He was seen at the Vanderbilt Hotel
where he took apartments after his ar
rival on the Philadelphia on Sunday.
Sir Gilbert would not comment d.
rectly on President Wilson's address
before the Senate yesterday. Yet, in
the course of the interview, he gave
virtual answer 10 some OF the points
made by the President.
His belief that the Allies would fight
on TO triumph was stated with a We
hemence gained from two years obser-
vation-two years thought. He con
tinued:
England has done with taking
chances. II she had not taken chances
there would have been no war. If she
had trained young men as Lord Rob-
erts begged her for years to do, Ger
many and Austria would have realized
that she meant business. And Ger
many and Austria would not have en-
tered upon this war if they had thought
that England would have fought them,
and if. fighting, would have been able
to DO what 5he has done"
Believes in Peace League
Sir Gilbert was asked il he thought
that league to enforce peace--a con-
cert of nations banded together to po-
lice the world-were practical. -
"A league to enforce peace" said he,
"is certainly practical and practicable.
But, if you have league to enforce
peace, then the members of that league
would have to enforce it,"
However. he realized fully the diff
culties of working out details and Of
reorganizing the military status Of ma
tions. And he appreciated the dangers
attendant thereon-the danger. for
example, of q state Of virtual war
brought into existence By the quelling
of nation, member of the league,
which had rebelled against the man
dates OF the league.
The novelist still believes. as he be-
lieved year ago, that the fall of 1917
will 600 the end of the war.
81 have not changed my mind" he
said. 81 look for peace this autumn
or sooner"
He spoke Of the drain upon English
resources, of the toll in life and the
outpouring of money. The war is cost
ing England s6,oOO,OOO day. ne said.
GLOW long can England last? How
long can she stand this constant drain
upon herr"
Britain Can Stand Strain
"Just longer than any other nation
fighting" was the calm rejoinder. I'm
spite of the smallness of our nation
We have p reservoir of imperial
strength that is greater than the newly
created empire of Germany. And don't
forget this: In Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and South Africa there are
four considerations with unlimited re-
sources, ready to mortgage the last
man and the last dollar Of their posi-,
bilities. Don't ever forget in regard
20 this war that what was believed TO
he the weakness of England--a loosely
organized enpire-has proved to be of
monumental strength.
"But." he hastened to say, IF any
body thinks England wants to destroy
Germany as an empire. or as people,
il is sheer nonsense. II is not the bust
ness Of England or France 10 say who
shall govern another country
Economic pressure. to his mind, was
M more the cause Of the war than was
an English desire TO proselyte ITS own
form of government upon an inland
people. c. c;,h.
laughed at this point the only time
during the interview-"that mercantile
envy would drive England into a war
Because what the war is costing Eng
land-that is, nearly f6,000,0OO day
would scarcely meet any mercantile SUI
premacy which the defeat of Germany
would bring her"
Sir Gilbert's answer TO "A question
that is vital at the present 10 tins coun-
try was as convincing as il was brief.
"Do you favor universal military
training for this country for any
country? ?"
Military Training Insures Peace
IL can speak only for England he
replied. "If England had applied the
most elementary form of military train
ing this war would not have happened.
The great Novelist told then the rea..
son for England's part in the war. And
again it seemed as if the spirit OF
nation employed the lips of one of its
foremost men.
"The British people are slow to rouse
and very slow 10 drive into a fight. But
VIXEN they are once in il and their con
victions are aroused they are even
slower 10 let go.
make no mistake about this. The
British people did not want war. And,
except in so far as the navy WAS con-
cerned, they were not prepared for war.
"They are in this war because Of two
things: the faith of friends, and the
honor Of treatiesl