The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1918-01-05
PRESENT HOUR
IS CRITICAL
LLOYD GEORGE
Tells LABOR
Premier Says Nation Con-
science Must Be Behind
Clear, Just Causes to Keep
War Going.
PEOPLE MUST CONSENT

LONDON, Jan. 5.-Premier Lloyd
George, addressing the Trades Unions,
today on the subject of war aims said
that only the clearest greatest and
most just Of causes could justify the
continuance even for one day OF this.
unspeakable agony Of nations"
The Premier continued: I'VE ought
to be able to state clearly and definite
ly not only the principles for which we
are fighting but their definite, concrete
application to the war map of the
world.
I'VE have arrived the premier
went on, "at the most critical hour OF
this terrible conflict and before any
government takes the fateful decision
as to the conditions under which it
ought either to terminate or continue
the struggle it ought to be satisfied
that the conscience Of the nation 10
behind these conditions"
Not to Take constantinopie.
The premier declared Great Britain
was not fighting to take Constant
nople from Turkey.
"Our view point" the premier de-
clared. SIS that the adoption Of q
democratic constitution by Germany
that the old spirit of military domina-
ton was dead but that is a question
for the German people to decide"
The basis Of any territorial settle
ment must be government with tho
consent Of the governed. the premier
asserted.
Referring to the pronouncement
made on December Is by County Won
no
eign minister at the Brest-Litovsk
peace conference, the premier said:
1T is impossible to believe that any
such foundation"
Premier Lloyd George said that an
independent Poland comprising all
genuinely Polish element who desired
to participate was an urgent necessity
1 for the stability OF western Europe
Natives Must Decide
Speaking with regard to the dispo-
| sition Of the German colonies, the
premier said, "They are held at the
| disposal Of a conference whose deci-
sion must have primary regard to the
wishes and interests OF their native
| Inhabitants.
| The prime minister said that democ-
1
| the last by the democracies of France
and Italy.
I'VE should be proud to fight to the
end" he declared, "side by side with
the new Russian democracy. So would
America, France and Italy. But II
the present rulers OF Russia act inde-
pendently we have no means to arrest
the catastrophe. Russia can only be
saved by her own people.
| VIII Fight for Aisace
1--WE mean to stand by the French
democracy to the death" the premier
continued, ''in the demand the French
make for a reconsideration Of the
great wrong of 1871 when Alsace- Lor
raine was torn away from them This
sore has poisoned the peace OF Europe
for half century and until it is cured
healthy conditions cannot be restored
Preparation means recognition, the
premier said. Unless international
right is recognized by insistence on
payment for injury done in defnance
Of it's own canons, it can never be
reality. Next comes the restoration
Of Serbia, Montenegro and the occu
pied pairs Of France, Italy and Rou
mania. The complete withdrawal OF
alien armies and reparation tor 1nJus
flee is the fundamental condition OF 9
permanent peace.
I'VE regard as VITAL" said the prem
Ter" the legitimate claims of the ltal
ians for union with those Of their OWE
race and tongue
eve also mean to press that justice
. be done to the men Of Rounaniar