STRICKEN EUROPE.

Evening Star, Issue 17234, 26 December 1919, Page 4

STRICKEN EUROPE.

AMERICA MUST HELP,

LLOYD GEORGES CALL,

Australian and 3ST.Z. Cable Association and Rsuter.

. LONDON, December 18. t m *ho House of Commons. Mr ■Ldoyd George, in a speech during a debate on foreign affairs, denied the suggestions in regard to secret diplomacy durine or since the Peace Conference. He emphasised the wisdom of reticence regarding the delicate situation in the Adriatic where the Italian Government were faced with the greatest difficulty. As regards the Anglo-Franco-American agreement. Mr Lloyd Georee said we were undoubtedly free to reconsider oiir decision if the United States failed to ratify it, but we did not contemplate that the United States would dishonor her great representative's signature at Paris. It wouldi be a mistake to discuss the subject on a supposition of that kind. "I have no reason to suppose that the United States will not asrree to the Treaty," Ba id the Prime Minister.

The situation in Russia was a frightful morass, where neither Britain, France, nor Italy was undertaking further responsibility, beyond the first-named's promise of £17.000.000 worth of material to the anti-Bolsheviks. The American and Japanese Governments were discussing what action should be taken in Siberia if the Bolsheviks progressed much further eastwards. It was impossible to make peace with Russia, because that country had no Government able to speak for the whole of the people. If the Bolsheviks claimed to speak for Russia, let them summon a freely-elected National Assembly. The deliberations at Downing Street resulted in the conclusion that it was only possible to watch the situation vigilantly, and to make peace immediately Russia emergedi from darkness and some'steady form of Government was established. The Prime Minister referred to the not inconsiderable assistance already given to Austria, but admitted that this was inadequate. England could not undertake the whole task. We had been asked to help in all directions, because of our reputation for "readiness to respond to appeals, but we could not carry burdens beyond our strength. The only remedy was for America to firmly participate alon~ with Britain and France. Britain must rehabilitate herself. The whole future of the civilisation of the world depended on this. We had waited to the very limit for America to show a disposition to participate in the guardianship of Christian,communities before concluding the Peace Treaty with Turkey, but he now considered we were entitled to, and we proposed to, make such peace at the earliest possible moment. Preliminary discussions would be resumed in a few days, either in London or Paris. The Government had done their utmost to further the League of Nations, and he was convinced that this country at any rate must continue therewith. If the discoveries made almost at the end of the war had been employed unparalleled horrors would have resulted. It was vital to the world to have civilised means of preventing the making of war with such additional terrors.

He concluded with an optimistic note on the signs of the steady recuperation of British tirade and finance.