New-York tribune., 1918-02-13
Declares Allies
Ready for Test
Asquith Praises Presi.
dent Wilson for Dis
eliminating Between
the / eutonic Allies


George. addressing the House of Com
mons to-day, declared that the Central
POWERS had given proof, in the replies
OF Hertling and Czernin to the declara-
tions OF the Allies, that they were still
unprepared to consider the aims and
ideals OF their enemies. While the tone
OF Count Czernin's speech was different
from that of the German Chancellor's.
SAID the Premier, Austria Hungary ap-
peared as adamant as Germany when it
came to the essential demands of the
Allies. For these reasons, he declared.
the war must go on.
While refusing to disclose the de-
clsions of the Versailles conference.
Lloyd George said that arrangements
mad been perfected to meet the enemy's
coming blow in the field The military
/ situation had been made more menac-
ing by the transfer of German troops
from the East front, the Premier said.
and as result the Allied armies would
be treated as one in meeting the COM
mon danger.
Former Premier Asquith, following
Lloyd George, praised President vii.
sons marked discrimination in his lat
est message to Congress between the
utterances Of Czernin and Hertline.
Asquith did not agree with Lloyd
George on this point. He declared that
both in tone and in substance there
existed real difference between the
Austrian and German replies.
Replies Are Disappointing
The Premier said that he had read
with the most profound disappoint
ment the replies OF Count Won Hertling.
the Imperial German Chancellor and
Count Czernin, the Austro- Hungarian
Foreign Minister, to President Wilson's
and his own speeches.
ut is perfectly true, as far as the
tone is concerned" he said. "that there
is a great difference in the Austrian
and German speeches. But I wish
could believe there is a difference in
substance. l cannot altogether, and |
regret it, accept the Interpretation OF
tne Czernln speech 1t was extraordi
narlly civil In tone and friendly. But
when you come to the real substance of
the demands put forward by the Allies.
1t was adamant. 1t put Mesopotamia.
Palestine and Arabia in exactly the
same category as Belgium. Thew were
to be restored to the Turks on tho
same conditions. presumably. a those
OF which Germany was TO restore Bel
gium.
Czernin Refusal Definite
When it came to the Italian de-
nands' Count Czernin simply said that
certain offers had been made before the
war. and that they were now with
1rawn. So far as the Slavonic popuIa
'!on OF Austria is concerned it was
amply a polite statement to Prcsiden,
W olson and the others that it was none
u our business to inquire. There was
aot single definite question dealt with
shete Czernln did not present the
most definite refusal to discuss anv
arms which might be regarded as DOS
ibie terms of peace, and, when YOU
ome TO the German reply, it is very
to believe that Won Hertlinp
ould be even serious in some of the
emands he put forward.
" nat was his answer to the Allies
ely ihooerate demands? His answer
'as that Great Britain was to give up
ei 'oaIlhg stations throughout the
'orld. l confess l think that was the
ast demand Germany ought decentlv 70
ave put forward
Germany's Eyasions
Germany's action regarding Russia.
nefremler pointed out, proved that
er deciaratloH regarding no annexa
,oHs had no real meaning. No an.
Wer ;, !n haa oeen given regarding Bel
acsory, he declared. No answer had
cen cen given regarding Poland or
rance, with her legitimate claims for
ne restoration OF her lost provinces:
o. ~oro nad been said about the
zen OF the Italian race and tongue
9W Nv under the Austrian yoke.
On.Ii mere was some better proof
'eeches to which he referred that The
entrai Powers We're prepared 70 COW
o1er oer the aims and ideals for which the
mes were lighting, said Mr.. LLOYD
gorge. 1t would be the nations re-
'ettaoie duty to go on and make
eparations necessary in order "a
taohsh international right.
IL was true that he mad stated IN
oVemoer. he continued. that it was
,;, ). lH,ended that the Supreme War
'uncil should have executive func-
'ns' but since then Russia had zone
II OF the war and a number of Ger-
an divisions had been brought to the
estern front from the East. The
'uation had become very much more
enacing. and the Allies had met at
'rsailles to consider the best methods
meeting that menace.
M ne Premier said that if the House
Commons was not satisfied with the
nduct of the war the only wav vas -
ange the government. Field Marsha,
'lg and General Robertson. he addcd
re present at the session of the Su.
eme War Council and approved its
The Premier requested the House no,
press the government. regarding the