Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-26
ON WAR COUNCIL
Continued from Page One)


Continued from Page One)
Questions of equal moment. All the diff
ferent problems connected with maxi
ing peace, as was stated in the govern
ment's invitation, will be threshed out.
The war policy of the Empire will he
clearly defined and of greta import
ance is what I may call the prepare
ton for peace. That will involve not
only rehabilitation, but such after
the war questions as the migration or
our psCple to other parts of the EN-
pire, the settlement of soldiers on the
land. commerce and industry"
You have not hesitated to depart
from precedent
We certainly have not answered
the premier. but i'll these days we
cannot hesitate because we are break
Ing precedents. The Empire has thrown
itself heart and soul into the war and
we would be failing in our duties il we
old not take every possible step to see
that it's leaders get together from time
to time.
You do not suppose that we think
that the overseas nations can raise and
enormous proportion of their best man
hood and not want to have say ana
a real say. in determining the use 10
which they are TO be put? That seems
to us an undemocratic proposition. That
is why one of the first acts of the new
government was to ask the overseas
Premers to come over. not to a formal
imperial conference. but to sit in the
executive cabinet OF the Empire. That
is why VIC have arranged for represen-
tative of India which has rendered in
valuable service to our common cause
to be present also"
An Early Meeting
This implies" suggested the CORE
spondent. that the conference %hou'd
NEE; as soon as possible.
certainly" replied Mr.. Lloyd George.
The war is not won vet and we want
to concert our efforts 50 that We may
exert our maximum strength at the
critical moment. Further. VIC arc most
anxious that during the last and most
trying phase of the war the British
Empire may present to the world an
absolutely united front. TIP to the pres
Cnt the British government mas shout
dcred responsibility for tn policy of the
war practically alone. 1t now wishes
4" know that in IFS measures for prose
cutting the war 10 Il finish and in its
negotiations For peace it viii be carry
ing out A policy agreed upon by repre-
sentativcs of the whole Empire sitting
in plenary council together.'
q
asked.
If YOU mean by that constitutional
reconstruction replied Lloyd George
Il can only say it is too soon to talk
about after the war. but l can say
this: Things can never be the same
after the war as before it. Five dc
mocracies. all parts of our empire, can
not shed their blood and treasure with
heroism and disregard of cost which
has been beyond all praise without lcav-
ing memories OF comradeship and great
mpliSnnent Wlvtch will never die.
"Of this | am certain. The peoples
Of the Empire will have found unity
in war such as never existed before
unity not only in history but of pur-
pose. What practical change in imperial
organization that VIII mean do not
'cnture to predict. That il will involve
some change is certain.
II believe that all the statesmen Of the
old country and the dommicns who HAY,
spoken about it are unanimous on that
point. The forthcoming war council
however, cannot deal with these funda
mental postwar problems, but it may
afford some insight into the form they
may take
Then you are Sanguine about the ~
ture of the empire
IF we see the war through, I certain
ly am" the premier answered. You d"
not suppose that the great combination
of peoples who make up the empire car
have stood stcadfastly together wit,
their allies in order to dscredt and over
throp the most brutal and inhuman M,
chine for the destruction of human lib
critics that the world has even seen am
not have discovered new ground o1
friendehip:
We stand at this moment on the verge
of the greatest liberation that the WORT
has even seen since the French reVoiu
tion. DO YOU tell me that peoples WHIT
have stood together and staked literally
everything in order TO bring that 10
Grafton about are not going to tind soma
way of perpctuating that unity atte'
wards on an equal basis? ! am certa-i
that they wilt
.-There will he much for them TO "a"
Peace terms will be only beginning
After they are sufficiently arranged Ue
shall have to set to work to build NJ
that ordered freedom and fraternity
which is the only security for human
peace and progress and which militar5n
has destroyed; and is it not certain thli
the nations which have borne the heat
and burden of the day in overthrpw'n2
that nilitarism will take leading share
in building that new earth which they
have made possible by their sacrifices
No: if we endure to the end have SINAI
fears for the future; and not the leaS;
in,portant of the founda atoms for the
work we shah have to do together III
that future will be this war council vi
British peoples