The sun., 1918-02-13
ASQUITH BACKS
WILSON'S VIEW
Says President Disseminated
Justly Between Two
ChancellOrs.
BURDEN Is on JUNkERS
German Militarists Alone Re-
ject Peace That Is Ac-
ceptable to World.
BURDEN Is on JUNkERI

LONDON. Feb. lc--H. II. Asquitif. for
mer Premier. In an address in the House
OF Commons to-day, commented on the
peace situation at the present time.
touching on the restatement Of the peace
aims Of Great Britain by Premier Lloyd
George. the Brest-Litovsk peace confer
ence.. the statement OF the Kaiser and
also OF President wilson's address Of
yesterday. In referring to the address n
President Wilson, Mr.. Asquith said:
The President Disseminated Justly.
both in regard to the tone and SUBJ
stance. between the declarations Of the
German and Austrian Chanceliors. 1t
would seem as though. as President
Wilson said, the military party in Ger
many alone rejected and would have
nothing to do withsa peace based upon
lines which. in principle at any rate.
the whole OF the rest Of the world is
ready to accept.
at Is such a peace only. and a new
international order which We believe 1t
would bring about. that would compen-
safe for the sacrifice which justified:
even necessitated. the prolongation of
the war.
Peace Must BE LASTING.
THE peace for which we are fighting
must be a clean and lasting peace, rest
ing on foundations OF international JUS
tice. That Is not only our opinion. but
the opinion Of all our allies, and We will
vigorously and scrupulously observe
those principles In continuin0t the war; y
Commenting on the general situation
Mr.. AsQuith said:
we have had a restatement Of the
peace aims In behalf Of this country BY
the Premier. statement In which
entirely concur, both in the spirit and
the letter. and on behalf OF the United
States by President Wilson. We have
had, in addition. replies to these state
ments. BY Czernin and Won dertling.
We had next \ resumption Of the Brest-
Litovsk negotiations. which resulted In
a treaty between the Central Powers
and Ukraine"
After referring to the fact that Rus
sia was no longer in the war he said
"And. finally. we read this morning two
remarkable and sharply contrasted
declarations by great and responsible
persons. Firstly, a declaration. by the
German Emperor. The Emperor
aspiration for friendship with other
nations is confined in its expression to
neighboring nations. That phrase does
not seem to include ourselves at hrst
sight. but perhaps it has been a lapse
Of speech
The second declaration referred to by
Mr. Asquith is the address OF President
Wilson.
Mr.. Asquith asserted that nothing
had been done or left undone which In
the least had shaken the confidence Of
the nation In Field Mafshal Haig. the
commander in France and Belgium. and
in Gen. Robertson. Chief OF Stan at the
army headquarters.
Confidence in HaiE.
We are all destrous that while the
war lasts and the purposes for which
we entered 1t are still unachieved II
should be prosecuted with the best re-
sources at our disposal" MIR. Asquith
continued. Among these. in the first
place We must be given leadership
There have been many criticisms. Just
and unjust. upon the conduct of the was
during the past year. but in the military
field there has been nothing which has
been done or left undone that has in the
least shaken the confidence OF the en-
pire In those two great soldiers Haig
and Robertson.
For more than two years against all
the vicissitudes OF fortune that during
that time have befallen the allied cause
they have proved over and over again
their possession in a preeminent degree
of the qualities OF foresight. tenacity.
patience and unperturbed resolve which
went furthest TO win and to retain the
trust and loyal devotion Of the British
troops.
I'VE owe to them unstinted gratitude
and unwavering confidence, and there
are no two men whose Judgment In mill
tary matters ! would more unhesitat-
ingly accept"
The former Premier said he thought
1t could be possible for the Government
to give a dehnition Of the enlargement
Of the functions OF the Inter ALLIED War
Council. just as in the first place they
had defined publicly the original func-
tions Of tho council.
Information IL Sought.
II wish to know. and I am sure the
House wishes to know" Mr.. Asquith
continued. whether any change has
been made In the status Of the person.
mel or the functions OF the commander
in chief or In those OF the chief OF
the General Staff.
II rule out as absolutely irrelevant
in matters OF this kind all -umors of
personal rivalries and squabblcs, such
rs We read OF In the papers. cannot
believe In them and shall not until !
have overwhelming evidence to the con-
trary. cannot and will not believe
considerations Of that kind can sway the
action Of politicians or military men.
81 feel that the House would not be
discharging its duty unless It asked the
Government to define authoritatively.
with view 10 quieting suspicious and
removing doubt. that the strategy Of the
war will be conducted on sound lines
and OH lines which are approved by
those who are our highest technical ad-
visers. We should have complete con-
fdence in the system on which we are
carrying on the war and perfect har.
mony Of opinion, as well As Of effort. b.
tween the Government and those vino
are u se.'Nants"