New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
British Minister Says
Wilson's Plan Is I'M
possible Now
WORLD LEAGUE
MAY COME LATER
But German War Machine
Must Be Crushed First,
He Asserts

Bristol, England, Jan. 24.-Ad-
dressing a meeting tonight in con-
nection with the war loan campaign,
Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor of
the Exchequer and member of the
British War Council, made the fol-
lowing reply to President Wilson's
peace speech in the United States
Senate
"The end of war is peace. The
Germans made us what they have
called an offer of peace. II received
from the Allied governments the
reply which it deserved-the only
possible reply.
"Most of you have, however, pre-
sumo, read the speech by President
Wilson, which appeared in yester-
days papers. 1t is a frank speech
and it is right that any member of
one of the Allied governments who
refers to it should speak with equal
frankness. 1t is impossible that he
and we can look on it from the same
Ioint of view
Americas Distance Dims View
"The head of great neutral nation,
whatever his private views may be
and know as little as any of you what
they are-must adopt a neutral atti-
! tude.
America is very far removed from
the horrors of this war. We are in the
midst of them. America is neutral;
we are not neutral. We believe that
the essence Of this conflict is ques-
tion which is as old as time-the diff
ference between right and wrong.
"We believe, we know, that this is
war of naked aggression, that crimes
which have accompanied the conduct
of the war, which have been unknown
in the world for centuries, are small
in comparison with the initial crime
of plunging the world into war by cold
blooded calculation because those re-
sponsible thought it would pay.
president Wilson's speech had this
aim-to gain peace now and secure
peace for the future. That is our aim,
and our only aim. He hoped to secure
this by league of peace, and he not
only spoke in favor of such a league,
but he is trying to induce the Ameri-
can Senate 70 take the steps necessary
to give effect to it. IL would not be
right to regard this proposal as some
thing altogether Utopisn.
Question for Present
"But this whole subject is not an
abstract question for the future. 1t IS
a question of life and death now. In
Judging whether that result can be Sc
cured by his methods it is impossible
for US to forget the past.
'For generations humane men, men
of good will among all nations, have
striven by the Hague Convention, by
peace conferences and BY all other
means to make war impossible, or at
least 10 mitigate the horrors Of war.
"When war comes, by what means
can these barriers built up against bar
berisn be made effective? They cannot
be preserved by the belligerents If any
of them choose to ignore them. IL is
only from neutral states that effective
sanction can be given to them.
What happened? At the very out
break of the war the Germans swept
aside every one Of these barriers. They
tore up treaties which they had them
selves solemnly signed. They strewed
mines in the open sea. They committed
every atrocity on sea and land against
the Hague Convention, which they had
themselves signed.
"They made war on women and chill
dren. They destroyed neutrals as ruth
lessly as they did their enemies. They
are at this moment driving the popula-
tion of conquered territories into sla-
very. and. worse even than that, they
are making some of the subjects OF
their enemies take up arms against
their own country.
"All this has been done, and no neu-
trail mower has been able 10 stop IT. No
neutral power. indeed, has made any
nrotest against il. We must then take
other means 10 secure the future peace
of the world.
1--WE have rejected the German offer
10 enter into negotiations, not from
lust of conquest or desire for shining
victories. We have rejected II. not
from a spirit of vindictiveness or de-
sire for revenge, but because peace
now would mean a peace based on VIC
tory.
Must Yindicate the Dead
eft would be peace which would
leave the military machine unbroken,
with the halo OF success surrounding
il Il would leave the control Of that
machine in the hands Of the same men
who for a generation prepared for war,
who would make the same preparation
again. and who would choose their own
time TO plunge the world into the hor-
rors which we are now enduring.
"Our aim is the same as President
wilson's. What he is longing for we
are lighting for. our sons and brothers
are risking their lives for. and we mean
10 secure IL. The hearts of the people OF
this country are longing for peace; We
are PRAYING for peace, for a peace
which will bring back to Us in safety
those who are fighting our battles, and
a peGce which will mean that those
who will not come back have not laid
down their lives in vain"