THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1917, Page 3

THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR

PEACE AGITATORS' SPEECHES STRAIGHT ANSWER BY MR. LAW (Australian and N.Z. o'able Assn.) (Rec. February 21. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. In the House of Commons Mr A. Ponsonby urged the Government to dis close its policy in regard, to its future conduct of the war. We had always said that we had no selfish motives and were not seeking to increase our territory or the dismemberment of enemy territory, yet our note to America showed otherwise. Britain had made great sacrifices from purely disinterested motives. The Government shpuld not degrade itself by making the war one of aggrandisement and supremacy. The German people were suffering, not the military party. We were destroying German Liberalism which was the only force capable of crushing militarism. We entered the war with clean hands and we ought to emerge empty handed. .vlr C. P. Trevelyan declared that the fate of Constantinople and the German colonies made it a war of conquest. The Entente had not made the Germans fight desperately to avoid national annihilation. The Entente's demand was not characterised by frankness and charity. Whatever our military successes we would still be compelled to negotiate, not to dictate, peace. In Heaven's name, why not try now? xVlr P. Snowden said that the longer the war continued the less likelihood there was of securing terms satisfactory to either of the combatants. The Allies' terms were monstrous." Mr Bonar Law, in replying, said that Germany was acting on the principle that she must win not merely by fighting, but by tyrannising civilian populations. Britain was not fighting for additional territory or to secure a glorious victory which would reflect credit on her arms, but for the punishment necessary in order to make the people responsible for these crimes feel that it did not pay. The var was forced upon fhe world, with calculations as cold blooded as a man moved a piece on a chessboard. We had no guarantee that if the war ended to-day, with the German military machine unbroken and the prestige of victory stillj clinging round it. the power of Germany would not be in the same hands and used for the same purposes in the future. If preparations for a fight were recommenced, •we would have to defend oursel/es un der worse conditions. Those responsible to the Government had determined that blood should not be shed in vain. There must not be a second panic war. He denounced any peace agitation at this time vyheh the greatest neutral nation reepgaised mat the excesses of pur enemies had reached a limit which made civilisation impossible. Hon. Walter Long, in replying to Mr N. Buxton said that his speech cabled on 31st January, was delivered by him as Colonial Secretary. He was expressing the opinion of those whom he was bound to . represent, namely the Dominions and colonies, besides many people here. Mr Long denied the allegation that his had created any difficulty with Ameri-