The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-01-05
GEORGE DEFINES
The WAR AIMS
OF HIS nation
Continued from Page -

p4o IEOA turkey nor destroy AuSJT1d-
Hungary.
1--WE are not fighting" he said, 'fto |
destroy Austria-Hungary or to deprive
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 he the most convincing evil
dence that the old spirit of military
domination was dead. but that is a
question for the German people to
decide
The basis of any territorial settle
ment must be governed with the con-
sent of the governed. the premier as
serted.
AS regarded the German constitu-
ton, Mr.. LloEd-George said Great
Britain was not fighting to destroy
it, although it regarded a military,
autocratic constitution as a dangerous
anachronfsm. After his reference to
the desirabihtv of the adoption of a
democratic constitution by Germany
he continued:
THE days Of the treaty of Vienna
are long past. We can no longer SUBJ
NIT the future of European civiliza-
ton to the arbitrary decisions of
few negotiators striving to secure by
chicanery or persuasion the interests
of this or that dynasty or nation.
Therefore government with the con-
sent of the governed must be the ba-
sis of anv territorial settlement"
Referring. to the announcement
made on Dec. q bv Count Won Ger
min, the Austro- Hungarian foreign
minister. at the Brest- Iitovsk peaca
conference. the premier said;
1T is impossible to believe any
permanent peace could be erected on
such a foundation. Mere lip service
to the formula of no annexation, no
indemnity and seIf-deternination is
useless
Premier lloyd George said that in
dependent Poland comprising all gen.
timely Polish elements who desired to
participate was an urgent necessity
for the stability Of western Europe.
Speaking with regard to the dispo-
Isition of the German colonies, the
premier said:
"They are held at the disposal Of a
lpricary regard to the wishes and in
Iterests of their native inhabitants"
Nobody who knows Prussia and
her designs toward Russia can doubt
her ultimate intention" Mr.. Lloyd
George said. whatever phrases she
uses to delude Russia she does not
mean to surrender any of the Rus
sian provinces and cities now occu-
pied. Under one name or another
they will henceforth be part of the
Prussian dominions, ruled by the
Prussian sword and the rest of the
Russians will be enticed or bullied in
to complete economic and ultimate
political enslavement."
Preparation means recognition, !"
the premier said. "Unless information
al right is recognized by insistence on
payment for injury done in defiance
of its canons, it can never be real
ity. Next comes the restoration OF
Serbia, Montenegro and the occupied
parts of France, Italy and Rumania.
The complete withdrawal Of alien ar
mics and reparation for injustice done
is the fundamental condition of per-
manent peace"
The prime minister said democracy
in Great Britain would stand to the
last by the democracies of France and
Italy.
Eve should be proud to fight to
the end" he declared, side by side
with the new Russian democracy. Sc
would America, France and Italy. But
if the present rulers of Russia act
, independently we have no means to
arrest the catastrophe. Russia car
only be saved by her own people"
, I'VE mean to stand by the French
democracy to the DEATH" he con
; tinued. Gin the demand the French
= make for a reconsideration of the
great wrong of 1871 when Alsace-Lor'
raine was torn away from them. 1hi:
4 sore has poisoned the peace Sof Eur
] ope for half century and until it il
cured healthy conditions cannot be
, restored"
, 1--WE regard as VITAL" said the pre-
mier, 'the legitimate claims Of thell
own race and tongue.
III We also moan to press that justice
be done to the men of Rumania1
- blood and speech
eff thesec onditions were fulfilled
power whose strength would conduc'
:. to the permanent peace and freedom
= of Europe instead of being an instru
. ment of the ,pernicious Prussian mill
Il tary autocracy.'
g The premier said the first require
e ments always made by the British
and their allies had been complet
le restoration of the political, territorial
Le and economic independence Of Bel
GUM, and such reparation as coul'
be made for the devastation of it
towns and provinces. This was n
demand for war indemnity, but in
sistence on the fact that before Their
r could be any hope of stable peace thi
1 great breach of public law in Eu
rope must Der epudiated and, as ia
as possible, repaired.
~ HEAD ADCTTnTFNT