Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-17
LLOYD GEORGE
MAKES REPORT
No Intervention in Russia, No
Recognition of Bolshevism,
Indemnity by Enemy and Pun
ishment of Kaiser His Program
MANY VISITORS PRESENT
Premier's Isong-Anticipnted Speech in
House Of Commons Il Listened to
with Marked Attention but Seems
to Excite Little Comment

London, April IS. (By the Associated
Press. mo Intervention in Russia; no
recognition of Bolshevism; and the full
fillment of his election promises, In
cluding those relating to indemnity
from the enemy powers and punish
ment of the former German Emperor.
These were the outstanding features
of the report which Premier Lloyd
George brought from Paris and deliv-
cred to the House Of Commons to-day.
Every member was in his seat and
the galleries were packed with dis
tinguished visitors, among them the
Prince of Wales and the American am
bassador, John w. Davis, when the
premier entered the chamber with the
cheers of the great crowd outside the
Parliament grounds still ringing in his
ears. He appeared fresh and in buoy
ant Spirits pausing at times to make
humorous sallies with various MEM
bers.
In the main, though. the mood of the
premier was serious, in conformity with
the weighty SUBJECTS discussed. and the
audience listened with profound atten-
ton to his lengthy speech. which lasted
for almost an hour and a half.
The laborites vigorously applauded the
|
ton in Russia and non-recognition of
Bolshevism, but remained silent while
| the conservatives cheered the statement
that the allies would continue to aid
| friendly elements which were fighting
Bolshevsm.
AT the conclusion Of the premier's
| speech, when members and those in the
galleries were pouring out in quest Of
belated luncheons. William Adamson
leader of the labor opposition in the
House. rose and characterized the speech
OF the prime minister as eloquent, but
not entirely satisfactory.
Interest in the debate RAPIDLY de-
clined, the members locking into the
lobbies to discuss the premer's speech.
John r. Clynes, labor member and for
mer food minister. declared that it would
be better to kill Bolshevism by feeding
! than by fighting. He complained that it
| would be humiiating to receive news of
| the peace terms from Germany, and said
that apparently Mr.. Lloyd George would
come to Parliament for a vote of conf
dence after the settlement of terms in
! which Parliament had no part.
At $50 O'Clock a member called atten-
| ton to the absence of a quorum. The
| doors were opened but instead of the
| members entering to make a quorum.
| many Oh tHOSe present walked out ana
the House was counted as standing ad-
| journed for the Easter recess until
| April %.
| The delegates to the peace confer
ence. Mr. Lloyd George said, had never
forgotten what France had gone
through and they had not forgotten to
what she was entitled-not merely Sc
curity against a repetition of the Ger
man attack, to feel a sense of security
against it. The conference had come
to a complete understanding on all
these questions before it, including a
decision that to publish the peace terms
before they We're discussed with the
enemy would be a first-class blunder.
Their premature publication, he con-
tended. could only serve to encourage
the resistance of the enemy.
Mr. Lloyd George denied that he was
trying to escape the declarations he
made during the general election CAM
paign. The declaration regarding maxi
ing Germany pay, he declared, had been
concurred in by all the party leaders
The premier said he had not come 10
the House of Commons to ask for re-
lease from any pledge he had given
| L am here to say that every pledge
we have given is unanimous in de.
mands put forward by the allies. We
stand by them because we believe they
are just We want a peace that is just
mot vindictive. We want a stern
peace because the occasion demands it,
but 1t must be designed not to graf
| ify vengeance. but to vindicate justice
i Every clause and every term in the con-
ditions must be justified. Above all,
we want to protect the future against
repetition of the horrors of this war;
The premier said he was going
|
him to go. Whoever went, he declared,
must have the full confidence of the
| parliament and carry out his pledges
| to the utmost of his power and
ability.
| He sharply criticised newspaper at
tacks that had been made in connec-
| ton with the peace conference, say
ing: When this kind of criticism is
carried to the point of sowing dis
| sension between great allies, whose
unity is essential for the peace of the
world, when an attempt is made to
| make France distrust Great Britain,
| France to hate America and Amer
lea to dislike France and Italy. not
| even that kind of business is justifica-
| tion for so black a crime against hui
| manity.
Referring to the necessity of return
ing to paths of peace and of reducing
| dTnlaineHtS, tHe premier sdlu tHdl tNo
| forces of the country which had kept
Europe in arms for forty years were in
the possession of an army which would
| be only adequate enough to police her
cities and post her commerce. There
were suggestions there might be
recrudescence in Germany. That was not
a danger, Mr.. Lloyd George asserted, be-
cause only with difficulty, he said. was
of the world going to pieces, adding:
| "a real danger-the gaunt spectre OF
hunger-is stealing through the land"
| After declaring that reliable informa-
ton showed that although BolsheviA
armed force was apparently growing
| "Bolshevsm itself was gradually wan.
ming and breaking down before the relent
| less force of economic facts" tho
premier declared that when Bolshevism
disappeared then would come the time
to reestablish peace with Russia. :
| I'VE must have patience" he warned.
because we are dealing with people
misgoverned for centuries. There ara
| unmistakable signs that Russia is
emerging, and when she is once mora
sane and normal the allies should make
peace with her."