Evening star., 1939-11-19
Lloyd George Argues Against
Restoration of Lost Poland
Hits Defiant Speech of Churchill as Vain Plea
to Start Wholesale Carnage in Long,
No.Surrender War
By David Lloyd George.

LONDON.-This is the end of the
eleventh week of war among three of
the greatest naval and military powers
on this globe. The only comment I have
to pass on the struggle is that not one
of them displays any eagerness to start
the fighting and still less any anxiety to
make peace.
The chancellor of the exchequer, read
ing to the House of Commons the Prime
Minister'S weekly statement as to the
progress of the war, placed in the fore
front of events the Belgian and Dutch
proffer of mediation and the replies re-
ceived from the respective belligerents.
He implied that the allies had given
favorable answers whereas the German
reply was blunt refusal. That is not
quite an accurate account of what has
happened.
The first answer came from the Brit
ish sovereign. 1t was dignified friendly
and conciliatory. Unfortunately it was
prefaced by a speech delivered on the
subject by one important minister, and
followed by a broadcast from another
minister equally important and more
forceful
Lord Halifaxs deliverance was digni-
fled and impressive, but it was stiff and
accommodating Mr.. Winston Church
ills diatribe, delivered few hours after
the Kings message, was frankly i'll
judged, provocative and naughty.
Churchill Dares Attack.
The King had just declared his readi-
ness to give every consideration to any
terms of peace enlanating from Herr
Hitler Churchill, on the same day, de-
nounced Germany and her leaders in
the violent and provocative language
habitually employed by Hitler himself
when he is seeking to make peace i'm
possible. The Fuehrer was ''cornered
maniac" The German people were
bullied weak nations but were afraid
to attack strong nations like the British.
He challenged and dared them to strike
Britain and her fleet.
1t was not the way to induce IA
vorable reply to King Georges courteous
and conciliatory invitation The French
reply was also unaccommodating.
They imposed conditions precedent
to discussion which the Germans could
not be expected to accept without COM
plete defeat-the restoration out and out
of Poland, Czecho- -Slovakia and Austria.
The boundaries of Poland as they
existed before the war cannot and ought
not to be restored. They contained prov
inces inhabited by alien races which
had been forcibly and fraudulently an
nexed by Hitlerian methods. Czecho-
Slovakia, with her 3,5o0,000 Germans,
cannot be restored to her pre-Munich
position. Austria is preponderantly
German and is not clamoring for sever
ance from a Germanic commonwealth,
which has as its ruler an Austrian by
birth.
A plebiscite might be agreed to. But
to impose extreme demands as a condi-
ton of entertaining the idea of discuss
ing peace terms is to insist on fighting
the war to finish. When will that be?
No Offensives in "Queer War"
The queer war" is not becoming more
intelligible to the average mind and the
super-intellects are not helping to en-
tighten us as to when it is likely to begin
in earnest, how it is to be fought and by
what means and methods it is expected
to reach a victorious end.
There is no popularity about this war
In that all the belligerents claim that
they are fighting a defensive battle. Ger
many AYERS that its attack on Poland
was to protect her own national rights
and those of others. What distinguishes
this contest from all others is that in
waging it both sides shrink from the
offensive.
Mr.. Churchill taunts Hitler about his
hesitance to strike. He says, why don't
you try to sink my fleet? 1t is waiting
for you in the Firth of Forth
The French say, when are you going
to emerge from your dugouts in the Sieg-
fried Line and attack the Maginot?"
The Germans say, 'You declared wal
on us. You promised Poland that you
would advance to her aid as soon as she
was attacked. When is the great march
going to begin? We have all we neec
of Poland and Czecho-Slovakia. We
seek no territory in the west and there
is nothing more we can take in the east
because of Russia. So why should W.
attack and what for?"
There is no obvious reason why this
"queer war" should ever end. The war!
of the French Revolution lasted 81 years
There was Thirty Years War in Ger.
many. The allies have now solemnly
declared that they will not make peace
until Poland, zecho-Slovakia and Aus
tria are liberated. When do they expec
to accomplish that task?
Far Away From Their Lands.
The British fleet cannot get anywher'
within shelling distance of any OF thes'
countries which are awaiting deliverance
while the French are hundreds OF mile
away and cannot start on their crusade
of liberation without first storming thu
Siegfried Line. That, they have not tn
slightest intention of attempting.
It took a succession of French govern