The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-09


that 1t was not the intention Of the
central powers to appropriate forcibly
any occupied territories or rob Of its
independence any nation which lost
it's political independence during tho
war. Mr.. Lloyd George said 1t was
obvious that any scheme Of conquest
and annexation could be perpetrated
within the literal interpretation OF
such a pledge.
1--WE must know what 1t meant"
said the PREMIER" for equality Of
right amongst nations. small as well
as great, is one Of the fundamental
issues this country and her allies are
fighting to establish"
Reparation for Belgian towns and
villages and their inhabitants, he as
serted, had been repudiated emphati-
cally by the central powers. and the
rest OF their socalled offers were al
most entirely refusal Of all conces-
sions On one point only We're they
clear. Under no circumstances would
Gcrmany's demand for the restoration
Of the whole Of her colonies be de-
parted from. All the principles of
self lf-determination here vanished.
1T is impossible to believe that
any permanent peace can be erected
on such a foundation" said the pre-
mier. "Mere lip service to the for
mula Of no annexation. no indemnity
and self-determination is useless.
''The days Of the treaty of Vienna
are long past. We can no longer sub
NIT the future Of European civiliza-
tion to the arbitrary decision Of q few
have been the complete restoration.
political. territorial and economic OF
the independence Of Belgium and
such reparation as can be made
for the devastation of its towns
and provinces. 1t is no de-
mand for war indemnity. but
insistence that before there can
| negotiators striving to secure by
chicanery or persuasion the inter-
ests Of this or any dynasty or nation
The first requirements always
made by the British and their allies,
have been tn complete restoration, po-
litical, territorial and economic Of the
independence Of Belgium and such
reparation as can be made for the de-
yastation Of it's towns and proinvces
1t is no demand for war indemnity
but insistence. that before theess car
be any hope OF stable peace this great
breach OF public law In Europe must
be repudiated, and. 80 far as is pos
rible. repaired.
Preparation means recognition
Unless international right Is recognize
od by insistence Of payment for in
jury done in deflnance OF It's canons
II can never be a reality. Next comes
the restoration of Serbia. Montenegro
and the occupied parts Of France
Italy and Roumania, the complete
withdrawal of alien armies and rep
aration for injustice done is the fun
damental condition of O. permanen:
peace.
I'VE mean to stand by the Frdnch
democracy to the death In the de.
mand they make for q reconsideration
of the great wrong Of II when Al
sace-Lorraine was torn away. This
sore has poisoned the peace Of Eu-
rope for half a century. and unti
cured healthy conditions can not be
restored"
The premier said he would not at
tempt to deal with the question OF
the Russian territories now In German
occupation.
Referring to the facts that the war
was started by Russia's decision to
protect Servian independence, and
that the present rulers Of Russia had
entered into separate peace negotia-
tions the premier said. II am in
dulging in no reproaches. I arm stat
ing facts to make it clear why Britain
can not be held accountable for de-
cisons taken in her absence and con-
corning which she was not consult
ed. or her aid invoked.
Nobody who knows Prussia and
her designs toward Russia can doub:
her ultimate aim. Whatever phrases
she uses to delude Russia she does
not mean to surrender any Of the
Russian provinces and cities occupied
Under one name or another they will
nenceforth be part Of the Prussian
dominions, and the rest Of the Rus
SANS VIII he enticed or bullied into
complete economic and ultimate po.
'itical enslavement.