The Washington herald., 1918-01-06
Flags Annexation Clause as
Bait Offered by Prus-
sian Mailed Fist.
DEFINES ESSENTIALS
FOR LASTING PEACE
Endorses President Wilson'S
Peace Aims and Chal-
lenges German Reply.

London. JsJnJ. 5.-Premier
Lloyd George today ripped the cam
outage of the Central Powers
peace statement at Brest4itovsk.
He exposed its annexation clause as
bait held out by the mailed FIST OF
Pussia-ready to strike the. death
blow to freedom everywhere and
garner in the spoils Of war.
On such Zip service" basis. he
said. lasting. secure peace is impos-
sible.
| Then he defined with greater d.
rectness and explicitness than ever
before Great Bntain's war and
peace aims. mentioning all the vital
disputed territories by name. His
basic principles are those first enun-
ciated by President Wilson. to
whom the premier referred re-
peatedly.
Dehaes Peace Terms
He said the three main pillars ef
a lasting peace must be:
l-Sanctity OF treaty.
2-Govemment by consent q the
governed.
S-Internationsl Limitation Of arIns-
ments.
ed before the British labor confer
ence on man-power. Il was hailed
here as master stroke Of states
manshtp, in form, substance and time
lness
} On the whole it came as a trenen-
doUs surprise. Though it had been
rUmored for several days that such
an Utterance was forthcoming, il had
not been expected to come so soon.
Only in a limited, political circIs.
was IL known last night when the
International News Service was en-
abled exclusively to foreshadow It
within the next twenty-four hours. - Z
The prenier's speech was addressed
to the peoples, rather than to the
governments OF the quadrupIe ani-
sDce. Particularly did it contain a
virtual heart-to-heart talk with the
people OF Germany. Only one OF
the central powers he ignored en-
tirely-Bulgaria.
Summary Of Speech.
Briefly summarized. the speech con-
stituted:
L A solemn pledge by Great Britain to
stand by her allies to the end. The
wrong done to France in 1871 when
Alsace-LOrraine was taken from her
must be ''reconsidened." ItaIy's IegIti-
mate claims for the union of her race
and tongue must be fulfilled
4. An explicit leiteration OF the de-
mand fo- restoration and reparstion,
not in word. but deed, and to be ap-
piled 10 France. Italy, Serbia, Monte
negro and Rumania.
8. A challenge to the central powers
governments to reply to President
Wilson's invitation of year ago aud
state why they are fighting.
4. A full assurance to the German
people that the allies are fighting nei-
ther to destroy them as a nation nor
as great power. but solely TO an
initiate militarism.
). An indirect but unmistak kahle in
vitation to the German peopIe TO re-
place autocracy by democratic con-
stitution. This. however. the premitr
added significantly. was a matter
Tor the German people 10 decide Nor
Is II the allies aim TO destroy the
present imperial constitution.
6. A rally call to the people Of
Russia TO awake to the fact that
Prussia means to enslave them. The
Russian people themselves are now
the masters of their fate. The
western powers welcome Russia
back to the fold but cannot stay
the catastrophe il her present rulers
insist on plunging her into it
Warns Austria.
Z. warnipc 10 the peopje q,
Austria that they must choose be-
tween letting their country become
Prussia's vassal. and remaining an
independent world power. Austria
Hungary's oppressed nationa lities
must be freed. That, not The dis
memberment Of Hapsburg Empire.
is the allies aim
.. An assurance TO Turkey that
the allies do not seek possession or
lConstantinoRe-prov the straits
are neutralized and international
ized-nor any Of Turkeys home
lands in Asia Minor and Thrac..
But Arabia, Armenia. Mesopotamia.
Syria and Palestine must emerge
! from this war under separate ps-
tional conditions
2. A challenge TO the central
powers to declare where they :taud
on arbitration
10. A reiteration Of the nrincinla
of nationalities and Of government
by the consent of the governed. The
Inhabitants of the German colonies
must say the decisive word as 20
their future allegiance.
To Make Further Sacrifices.
To fulfill these aims Mr. l.
George said Great Britain .nds
ready TO make further sacrif . IN
blood and treasure. The state ent OF
aims. he declared is an eNpr sion Of
the will and the resolve OF le whole
British empire. Before mai ng il he
added. he had conferred " former
Premier Asquith and Wise ant Grcy
rs well as other British s, ,tesmen.