Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-05
The premier continued:

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agony of nations"
The premier continued:
I'VE ought to be able to state clear
ly and definitely, not only the princi-
piles for which we are fighting but
their definite, concrete application to
the war map of the world.
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 1t ought to be satisfied
that the conscience of the nation is
behind these conditions"
Mr.. Lloyd George said that during
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.
He has read the statement Of lab0r's
war aims, he continued, and had dis
cussed the subject of war aims with
former Premier AsQuith and with
Viscount Grey. Had the nationalist
leaders in Ireland not been engaged
with the tangled problem of Irish self
government, he would have been happy
to exchange views with them. He had
also consulted representatives of Great
Britain's overseas dominions.
As result Of these discussions, said
Mr.. Lloyd George, although the gov
eminent alone was responsible for
the actual language he proposed us
ing, there was a national agreement
to the character and purpose Of the
nations war aims, and peace condi-
tons. He was speaking, therefore,
not merely the mind OF the govern
ment, but the mind of the nation and
the empire.
Not Fighting Germans.
I'VE are not fighting war of ag-
gression against the German people,"
declared the premier. THE destruc-
ton; or disruption of Germany or the
German people has never been q war
aim with us since the first day of the
war to now. The British people
never aimed at breaking up the Ger
man peoples or the disintegration of
their state. Our wish is not to destroy
Germany's great position in the
world, but to turn her aside from
schemes Of military domination to
devote her strength to beneficient
tasks"
The premier continued with the dec
laratfon that Great Britain was not
fighting to take Constantinople from
Turkey, nor destroy Austria Hungary.
I'VE are not fighting" he said, ito
destroy Austria-Hungary or deprive
Turkey of its capital or the rich lands
in Asia Minor and .Thrace which are
predominantly Turkish"
Up to People Of Germany.
Our viewpoint" the premier de-
clared, lis that the adoption of dem
ocratic constitution by Germany
would be the most convincing evidence
that the old spirit of military domino
ton was dead but that is a question
for the German people to decide"
The basis Of any territorial settle
ment must be government with the
consent OF the governed, the premier
asserted. The German constitution,
Mr.. Lloyd George said, Great Britain
was not fighting to destroy, although
IL considered military, autocratic
constitution a dangerous anachron-
ism. After his reference to the desir-
ability of the adoption OF democratic
constitution by Germany. he contin-
ued:
Government BY Governed.
THE days Of the treaty OF Vienna
are long past. We can no longer sub
NIT the future of European ciytliza-
ton to the arbitrary decisions of few
negotiators striving to secure by CHI
canery or persuasion the interests Of
this or that dynasty or nation. There
fore. government with the consent Of
the governed must be the basis Of any
territorial settlement"
Speaking with regard to the DISPOSE
ton Of the German colonies the prem
Ter said:
They are held at the disposal Of a
conference whose decision must have
primary regard to the wishes and In
terests OF their native Inhabitants"
Prusslan Intentions Known.
NOBODY VINO knows Prussia and her
designs toward Russia can doubt her
ultimate intention" Mr.. Lloyd GeorFe
said. Whatever phrases she uses to
delude Russia she does not mean TO
surrender any Of the Russian prov
tnces and cities now occupied.
Under one name OF another they
will henceforth be part Of the Prus-
sian dominions ruled by the Prussian
sword and the rest Of the Russians
will be enticed or bullied into COM
plete economic and ultimate political
enslavement"
Gives Peace Views.
Preparation means recognition, -
the premier said. Unless intsrna-
tional right is recognized by insistence
on payment for injury done In defiance
Of Its canons II can never be q. reality.