The sun., 1919-07-22
Lloyd George, Answering Crit
les in Commons, Asks Which
Neutral Wants Job.
SPEECH HITS AT IRELAND
Peace Treaty Passes Third
Reading Unanimously
After Debate.
Bp the Associated Press.


the debate to-day. when the House OF
Commons passed the German Peaco
Treaty unanimously on third reading.
The Anglo-French Convention was also
debated.
Recent announcement by the Premier
that the former German Emperor would
be tried before a tribunal in London
had created much discussion. and sew
eral members, including Lord Robert
Cecil. expressed doubts as TO the advis-
ability Of the trial being held in London.
The selection OF a neutral country for
this purpose. 1t had been commended
would have been better.
The Premier, in answer to this, said
What right have we to assume that
any neutral country could desire to be
the scene of such a triai7 The Allies
have sufficient confidence in this coun-
try that whoever comes here for trial
will receive a trial equal to the highest
traditions of the British nation. and
there are none higher in the world.
IF war is to be abolished 1t must
be treated. not as An honorable game
with the prospect of personal glory. but
as a crime. That is why we decided
that the author of this war should be
| tried"
Another matter OF extreme Importance
| which came up for discussion was the
Irish question. and to this the Premier
| devoted considerable time, with numer-
Gus intersections by Joseph Devlin. Ma
| tionalist for Falls division Of Belfast
warns Government on Ireland.
O. -
| sea. warned the Government that some
Of the Unionists considered the settle
ment Of the Irish difficulty just as urs-
ent as did the Irish members.
The Premier caused laughter by de-
| scribnE the Irish convention that had
| failed TO agree as to his attempt to
| apply President Wilson's principles to
| Ireland.
Answering Mr.. Devlin's demand for
a referendum, he urged that the diff
| Guilty was that Ireland was not nation,
but three nations in race, religion and
| temperament and outlook-ln fact, In
everything constituting the fundamental
conditions OF a nation. Until this diff
| Guilty was abridged II was useless to
| talk about Standardization. and until
Irishmen definitely faced this difficulty
he despaired Of any settlement.
A natural prejudice exists against
trading with Germany. Sir Donald Mac
lean said In opening debate, but. he
| added. that he could not see how the
Allies could recover an indemnity unless
| they traded with her. lie said he re-
| GREETED that the peace terms should in
themselves prevent Germany from giving
| immediate reparation and making speedy
payment OF part of the indemnity.
| Unlike many Of my party" Sir Don
| aid continued. II agree absolutely that
the ex-Haiser. who was respons BILE for
some Of the grossest acts OF the war and
who has been rejected by his own people.
should be brought TO a fair and solemn
| trial"
Sir Donald suggested, however. that
instead Of the trial being held In London
It should take place In relative OBJ
| security in some neutral State"
| After referring to the "ssething caul-
| dron' in the Near East Sir Donald said !:
The one bright and shining hope OF the
whole picture is the League Of Nations"
John r. Clynes, former food con-
| troller: George Nicoll Barnes. Minister
| without portfolio Lord Robert Cecil and
other members continued the debate
| Lord Robert spoke In favor OF renewal
or revision OF the treaties when II he
came necessary and expressed doubt
as to the stability of trying the for
|
| Reception Gratihes Premier.
| Premier Lloyd George expressed graft
fcation at the course the debate had
taken and the spirit in which the treaty
had been received He believed this re-
fiecJed the spirit OF the graf public out
| side.
| The Premier defended the Anglo-Amer-
lean convention with France, which he
| commended was no proof Of Frances want
| of confidence in, nor any reflection upon,
the League Of Nations The league was
in the nature of an experiment. He con-
sldered France justified in arguing. after
the experience she had gone through.
that while she believes in that expert
ment and will do her utmost to promote
It's success. she thinks the league would
have a better chance OF establishing IT.
self as a permanent organization II II
has the British Empire and the United
States behind 1t, and its DEGREES are
feared and respected
With regard to criticisms of the peace
treaty itself. the Premier thought that
they had been largely self-destructive.
He added. Some think we demanded
too little others too much"
Dealing with an amendment moved by
Horatio w. Bottomley. Independent for
South Hackney, regretting that Germany
had not been required to enter into bind
ing obligations to pay the whole cost OF
the war, the Premier gave details re-
| specting the demands of the treaty on
this subject and pointed out that the
very first clause was recognition by
Germany OF her responsibility to defray
the whole cost.
But, he asked. was there the remotest
chance of exacting that sum? The total
cost to the Allies was $3.50. 900, 000. 900
The sinking fund Germany would have 70
provide was $4,000, 100000 yearly. How
could she pay that?
Can't Cash Water and Soil.
at Is useless TO talk about Germany's
waterways" continued Lloyd George
"You can't cash waterways at the Bank
of England. II Is useless to talk about
German soil. You can only talk about
the produce you can get outside OF Ger
many and get the cash for,
Germany has lost three-quarters OF her
iron ore, one-third OF her coal deposits
between six and seven millions OF her
population and all her colonies. Nobody
could think that she would be able to pay
l,so0. 900. 900 pounds even II all these
were still In her possession"
Regarding criticisms on territorial ad.
justments the Premier commended that Il
was impossible to make a settlement
leaving no Poles inside Germany and nc
Germans inside Poland. That was large.
ly due to Germany's policy of establish.
ing little colonies here and there in order
to Prussianize Poland. and the Peace
Conference had taken the only possible
course in accordance with the principles