MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND DR. MICHAELIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 5

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND DR. MICHAELIS

NO BASIS FOR PEACE IN CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH

BRITAIN IS PREPARED TO

CARRY ON

BUT WILL TREAT WITH k

FREE GERMANY

London, July 21. During the course of his speech at the Queen's Hall, Mr. Lloyd George, after saying that, on tlio whole, the Chancellor's speech meant that the military party had momentarily won, -jioceeded to reaffirm that the form of Germany's Government was the Germi:os' own affair, but that what manner of Uoverniiient we can trust to make prace was our business. "Democracy has r.ot given its guarantee of peace, and if you cannot get it in Germany, then "wo must secure other guarantees as a substitute. The Chancellor's speech shows that Germany for the moment has elected for war. Belgium is not oven- mentioned. Its phraseology is full of menace, to Belgium. It makes the German frontier secure, takes Metz and Strassburg, and will take Liege and control of in order to secure German economic in- N tereats. The determination of the Allies is that Belgium must be restored as a free and independent people, and rot become a protectorate. I read Dr. Michaclis's speech, as it was my duty jo do, oi'ce, twice, and tlvrieo, to see if it contained anything for which I could liope for the cud o£ this bloodv struggle. I Sfo in it a. sliam independence of Belgium, a sham democracy in Germany, a sham peaee for Europe, andJT. say that Europe 'has not sacrificed mTuions of her gallant sons to re-establish, on the soil consecraled by their blood, a mere ss-nctuary for. sham. Dr. llichaelis tiies to dope his people with an illustrious Gc-rmany. but he will find that these notions, like others, will be dispelled." Mr. Lloyd George said he was sorry to disillusion Dr. Michaelis at the outset of his career, but truth compelled it. Gradually and surely we were increasing production and diminishing the losses at' sea. Although our apprehensions were great in the summer months, we had gradually decreased the losses. For example, comparing the three weeks of July with the corresponding period in April, we had not lost half tlio number of ships. We would turn out in 1917 four times the number- of ships built in 1916. In the last two months 0f'1917 wo would turn out as many slips as we did during tbe whole of last year. We would turn out in 1918 six times more ships than was the case in 1!>16. Far from starving us, owing to the exertions of tho Food Controller and tho Shipping Controller, the food supply for 1917-1918, on the basis of the present consumption, was secured. We were arranging a programme of cultivation to make 1918 secure even if the losses increased. Wo did not want the Germans to harbour delusions that they were going to put Uβ out of this fight till liberty was re-estnblished throughout the world. A great German newspaper the other day said that Germany. wns fighting for the freedom and independence of the Fatherland. .That was r/?ver true. The freer Germany was the better we would !iko it. Her rulers, tnd not the Allies, were the enemies of freedom in Germany. AVe could make peace with a free Germany, but we could cot with a Germany dominated by autocracy. Since the Russian "revolution and the Russian offer to concede independence to the nations under the Russian flag, the last shadow of a pretext that Germany was fighting for freedom was banished. It was now a struggle between the gioup of. democracy and free men and the group of nations governed by liilitary autocracy.—Aus.-N.Z. OkWo Assn.-Eeuter. • REICHSTAG ADJOURNS Amsterdam, July 22. The Reichstag has adjourned to August 26.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMANY'S MAN POWER TWO-MILLION CALLED VV FOR FINAL THROW. New York, July 22.' The New'Tork "World's" ; Washjugton correspondent says that a confidential report to tho War Department shows that the Kaiser has summoned 2,000,000' men to the colours in March, 1918, this quota lepresenting Germany's supremo fighting force. It is believed that the purpose of the call is to meet tho exueotud drive of the Allies when the Americans are ready.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assii: A PEACE APPEALiSoM THE POPE MOVE FOR MEDIATION New York, July 22. The New York "Sun" Rome correspondent says that i't is apparently certain that the Pope will appeal for peaco on tho third anniversary of tho war, next month. There is good rtason to believe that instead of a general exhortation to all the warring nations, the Pope will aim at mediation by two nations which are not technically at war, as an> initial step to forward negotiations between the belligerents. Such a siggestion clearly alludes to the United States and Austria. Reports from tiio Vutican ■ire that the Turkish Premier is expected to resign to make way for a National Cabinet of Liberals, who are in favour of peace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable'Assn.