The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-05

. 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 il ought 10
be satisfied that the conscience or
the nation is behind these condi~
tons"
Mr.. Lloyd George said that dur
ing the last few days he had taken
special pains to ascertain the views
and the attitude Of representative
men Of all sections Of thought in the
country.
Discusses War Aims.
He had read the statement OF la
bor's war aims, he continued, and
had discussed the subject of war
aims with former Premier Asauith
and with Viscount Grey. Had the
Nationalist leaders in Ireland not
Jeen engaged with the tangled prob
lem Of Irish government he
would have been happy 10 exchange
views with them. He had also con-
suited representatives Of Great
Britain's overseas dominions.
AS a result of these discussions,
said Mr.. Lloyd George, although the
for the actual language he proposed
using, there was a national agree
ment as to the character and pur-
pose Of the nations war aims and
peace conditions. He was speaking.
therefore, not merely the mind of the
government but the mind of the ma
tion and the empire.
Not War of Aggression.
I'VE are not fighting a war Of ag-
va,awa
pie" declared the Premier. THE de-
structiop or disruption of Germany
or the German people has never been
war aim with us since the first
day OF the war 10 now. The British
people never aimed at breaking up
the German peoples or the disinte-
grafton Of their state. Our wish lis
not to destroy Germany,s great pos
ton In the world but to turn her
aside from schemes of military DOM
ination to devote her strength %
beneficent tasks"
The Premier continued with the
declaration that Great Britain was
not fighting to take "Constantinopie
from Turkey nor destroy Austria
Hungary.
I'VE are not fighting" he said. TO
destroy Austria Hungary or to de.
prive Turkey Of its capital or the
rich lands in Asia Minor and Thrace
which are predominantly Turkish"
Our viewpoint" the Premier de-
clared. "is that the adoption OF a
democratic constitution by Germany
would be the most convincing evi-
dence that the old spirit of military
domination was dead but that is a
question for the German people 20
decide"
With Consent of Governed.
The basis Of any territorial settle
ment must be government with the
consent Of the governed, the Premier
asserted.
Referring to the pronouncement
made on Dec. 25 by Count Czernin,
the Austro- Hungarian foreign min-
lister, at the Brest-Idtoysk peace
conference, the Premier said:
1T is impossible 10 believe that
any permanent peace could be
erected on such a foundation"
Premier Lloyd George said that
an Independent Poland comprising
all genuinely Polish elements who
desired TO participate was an urgent
necessity for the stability Of western
Europe.
Will Stand To Last.
The prime minister said that de-
in Great Britain would
stand to the last by the democracies
Of France and Italy.
I'VE should be proud to tight to
the end" he declared, side by side
with the new Russian democracy. So
would America, France and Italy.
But If the present rulers OF Russia
act independently we have no means
to arrest the catastrophe. Russia
can only be saved by her own peo-
ole."
"We mean to stand by the French
to the DEATH" the Pre-
mier continued, "in the demand the
French make for a reconsideration
of the great wrong OF 1871 when
Alsace- Lorraine was torn away from
them. This sore has poisoned the
peace Of all Europe for half a GEN.
sury and until It is cured healthy
conditions cannot be restored"
AS regarded the German constitu-
ion, Mr.. Lloyd George said Great
Britain was not lighting 20 destroy
t, although ii considered a military,
constitution a dangerous
After his reference to
he deslrability of the adoption of a
democratic constitution by Germany
he continued:
ffThe days Of the treaty Of Vienna
ire long past. We can no longer subs
nit the future Of European civiliza~
ion to the arbitrary decisions OF q
eW negotlators striving TO secure by
or persuasion the inter-
,sts OF this or that dynasty or ma
ion. Therefore, government with the
.onsent Of the governed must he the
,asis OF any territorial settlements"
German Colonies.
Speaking with regard to the disc
,ositiOn of the German colonies the
PREMIER said:
"They are held at the disposal of
conference whose decision must
rave primary regard to the wishes
nd interests Of their native inhabi-
ants"
Ccontinued on page IL