The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 ,1918. LORD LANSDOWNE'S LETTER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 2 August 1918, Page 4

The Star.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 ,1918. LORD LANSDOWNE'S LETTER.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mungatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Mauutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waverley.

Lord Lansdowne lias again thought it wise to put forward his views concerning the war and the frightful losses which it entails. The figures he quotes of the belligerents' casualties are appalling, and no doubt the increased realisation of the destructiveness of the war has encouraged Lord Lansdowne to write his second letter. But although he has given good reasons why we should hate war, his letter has only brought to mind the thought: "If you hate war, end it." Gladly would the Allies leave the field, if it were possible to put any trust in Germany's professions. Our nation and its friends are not continuing the war because of any love of militarism, or for territorial and commercial gain, or because there is any desire to destroy the Germans as a nation. The one great and allimportant principle for which we are lighting is summed up in Presideni Wilson's formula: "To make the world safe for democracy." The Allies appealed over and over again to the enemy in the early days of the war concerning his terrible acts on land and sea, but never was the slightest notice taken, and the great German war machine continued on its way destroying everything in its path. Is it any wonder that the Allies determined that they would fight on until they had destroyed the destroyer? Lord Lansdowne states that the "desire for peace appears to be widespread in enemy countries." Probably so; but that desire is no doubt due to the fact that the shadow of defeat is hanging over them, and they hope to escape at the eleventh hour from the punishment which they, bj their unspeakable crimes, so thorouhgly deserve. Xo effort has been made, as far as is known, by the enemy peoples to rid themselves of the Prussian system, and it is doubtful whether they intend to do anything in the direction of throwing over their war lords. Such being the case Lord Lansdowne, it appears, would have the Allies make peace with a group of men whose every action has stamped them as untrustworthy and dishonorable, ready to fling agreements to the winds if "military necessity" demanded it. But Lord Lansdowne is forced to admit: "I am not positive we have reached the stage at which there is a prospect of a preliminary agreement on essential points and profitable conversations." Mr Lloyd George, in a speech in Edinburgh at the end of May, Btated the case very accurately in the following sentences, which contain a splendid answer to Lord Lansdowne's well-meant letter: "Had I thought that by any safe or honorable means we could even have averted this struggle from the start, or brought it to an earlier termination, I should have felt at this moment not merely burdened with anxiety, but weighed down with guilt. But let any man examine the whole records of this struggle, the way it was provoked by Germany, what has happened since, and we must feel the deep conviction in our hearts that there is no outlet from the struggle which is possible with national honor, with national safety, and the liberties of the world except a complete victory over the tyranny that is attempted to be set up. I can honestly say the Government have neglected no possible means of finding out whether there was any honorable outlet out of this war, and out of the horrors and tragedies of this war. There are two typos of extremists in every war. There is first of all the peace extremist; he is always crying out 'Peace' where there is no peace. That type discredits peace, and makes peace difficult when the time, conies for negotiating peace. He is not a real friend to peace. He is an enemy to pence. He is a hindrance to peace. He is an encouragement to tho enemy. He depresses his friends. Then there is the war extremist, who regards every thought of making peace

as if it were treason to the State. The i path. «£ sanity and of safety which & i Government ought to tread is between tli-p«3 two extremes." Lord Lansdowne throws the onus upon the Allies to find ■& way out of the war. Surely Germany, having acted as she has in the past, must first show that she is really sorry and willing to make reparation, restitution, and to give guarantees for the future. ========== ,