The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-01
THE TIMES: MARCH 1, 1918

a couraging event. But if we mention that let us at the same time acknow- ledge, as we all do, the splendid gal lantry with which our Italian Allies have now for more than two years waged their contest, the stubborn de- termination with which they are now resisting the onset of the aggressive forces of the enemy, and our own gladness and pride that British and rench forces are standing side by side with them with the hope and the de- termination that the invasion of Italy will soon be a thing of the past.
 The Large View
 The road may be longer than a year ago we thought it was likely to be; the difficulties may be greater, the obstacles to be surmounted may te more formidable; but that road will be traversed to it's goal, that those obstacles will be surmounted, there is rone of British blood who doubts for a moment; and we are prepared just as much as when the war originally broke out, possibly with increasing faith and resolve, to make whatever efforts the sacrifice and attainment
 
 The Goal is Peace
 But, after all, the goal is peace. The world knows, or ought to know by this time, what we conceive to be the conditions of great and honorable and lasting peace. But we should like to know-what we have never yet been informed-what our enemies think to be the conditions of such a peace. The idea that in this country or among the Allies there is a deter imitation to go on fighting the war to the bitter end, without any regard to possible terms of adjustment is a wholly unfounded idea
 We desire-and I suspect that in their heart of hearts it is the enemy's desire, for it is still more to their interest-to bring to an end this con- flict.
 Our position is perfectly clear. We have disclaimed from the beginning and we disclaim now, any selfish, az gressive, or vindictive purpose. But we cannot with honor lay down our arms unless those small countries, particularly on behalf of whose integ- rity and independence we originally entered the struggle, are compensated
 for the injury they have received and the desolation they have suffered, and have obtained guarantees and safe guards for their independent existence in the future.
 To make any compromise would be fatal to our honor, and would brand with insincerity the whole of our part
 in the struggle. I feel that at this
 moment we owe a large and still un- liquidated debt to these small coun- tries-Belgium, who suffered in the
 early weeks of the war unexamp1ed
 outrages and horrors, and a large
 part of whose population are living in state of thinly disguised servitude under their German conquerors and oppressors; Serbia, whose people, af- ter their heroic struggle which will
 always be remembered in history have been driven from their native land and denied not only access tc their homes and all possibility for the time being of an independent exist ence; Rumania, who finds herself now deserted by Russia, in an untenable military position and a prey to Ger
 man devastations and a source o1 supply and strength and wealth tc
 Both Germany and Austria
 Our Obligations
 These are the countries to whom our obligations are primal.
 They must not be forgotten. These obligations must not be lief
 discharged; and we cannot, and ough | not to, consent to any peace whicl ; does not provide for these small coun tries to have not only restitution bu the power of self-development anC g their national life.
 self-extension which is needed fo
 their national life.
 It is difficult to believe that so called civilized nations at this time o 5 day, at this stage of human develop u ment, should ignore such rights an | obligations. or our part, we hay = nothing to gain but the fulfilment o , plighted obligations, the discharge o a a sacred trust, and the fulfilmen = within the limits of our powers an d opportunities of the duties which W = owe to civilization and to freedom. Example for Posterity n I think there is nothing in this wal n with all it's moving experiences an a lessons, which we can look back upo
 with more satisfaction, or look for ward to with more hope, than the les n son which is graved upon the mind | of the whole British people in ever o part of the Empire-that, in the lon l' run, right is stronger than might, tha l. the battle of freedom at whateve
 risks is a battle worth fighting an : struggling on with, that selfish an IL material interests are subordinated t l. larger and higher obligations, an It that in this war we have set an e2 l. ample which we hope and believe, un n der different conditions, our posterit! y will cherish and follow, an exampl e of how a great Empire full of mater e tal prosperity, whose first interests va d of prosperity, whose first interests wa y peace. which had no militant nor az a gressive nor deligerent spirit in an
 part of it's policy, can throw aside a d those material considerations and ca.
 it's whole strength, material and mol @ al, on the side of the progressive de IT velopment of freedom and humanit le (By The International News BureaI