Arizona republican., 1918-01-06

from meeting on a common peace ground.
 When men by the millions are called upon to suffer and die, and vast populations are being subjected to the sufferings and privations of a war un- precedented in the history of the world" the premier said, they are en- titled to know for what cause or causes they are making the sacrifices. Only the clearest, greatest and justest of causes could justify the continuance even for day of this unspeakable az ony of nations.
 We ought to be able to state clearly and definitely not only the principles for which we are fighting, but their definite concrete application to the war map of the world. We have arrived at the most critical hour Of this terrible conflict, and before any government takes the fateful decision as the condi- tions under which it ought either to terminate or continue the struggle it ought to be satisfied that the con- science of the nation is behind these conditions.''
 The premier said that in the last few days he had taken special pains to as- certain the view and attitude of repre- sentative men of all sections of thought in the country. He had read the state ment of labor's war aims; he had dis cussed war aims with Mir. Asquith, the former premier and Viscount Grey, the former foreign secretary. Had the na- | tionalist leaders in Ireland not been en- gagged with the tangled problem of Irish self government, he would have beer | ha n QxnhanQa EieUS with fhpm but MT. Redmond, speaking in their be- ] half, had made clear what his idea: are as to the object and purpose of thu war. He had also consulted with rep. resentatives of the overseas dominions
 As a result of these discussions, h, continued, although the governmen alone was responsible for the actua | language he proposed using, there wa | national agreement as to the characte | and purpose of the nations war aim and peace conditions. He was there fore. not merely the mind of the gov ernment, but the mind of the natiol and empire.
 We may begin by clearing ava. some misunderstandings,' said tn premier. and stating what we are nov fighting for. We are not fighting war of aggression aainst the German people, Their leaders have persuade' them that they are fighting a war O self defense against a league of riva nations bent on the destruction of Ger many. The destruction or disruption
 of Germany has never been a war ain
 with us. Most reluctantly and quit
 unprepared we were forced to join i
 this war in self defense, in defense c
 violated law in Europe.
 The British people have neve
 aimed at breaking up the German peo
 pies or the disintegration of thei
 state Our wish is not to destroy Ger
 many's great position in the world, bu
 to turn her aside from schemes of mili
 tary domination to devote her strengt
 to the beneficient tasks of the world. We are not fighting to destroy Aus
 tria- Hungary or to deprive Turkey it's capital or the rich lands of Asi Minor and Thrace which are predon
 inately Turkish.
 We are not fighting to destroy tf
 German constitution, although we COT slider a military autocratic constitU tion, a dangerous anarchism. Our vie point is that the adoption of demo cratic constitution by Germany woul be the most convincing evidence tn; } her old spirit of military dominatio l had indeed died in this war. and { would make it much easier for us 5 conclude a broad. democratic peat