MR ASQUITH AT LEEDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 230, 28 September 1917, Page 8

MR ASQUITH AT LEEDS.

LIQUIDATION OF DANGEROUS ACCOUNTS.

ON LINES OF, RACIAL AFFINITY

(Received Sept. 28, 0.5 p.m.) ■LONDON, Sept. 27. Mr Asquith, in his speech at Leeds, reiterated that he did not aim at the annihilation or degradation of the (Jcrman people. It was true, that the manner in which the war was engineered, and the still more brutal cruelty and refined inventive wickedness by which it was carried on, must long affect the world's estimate of the German character. Nothing caused more consternation in the world than the German opinions and applause in favor of the barbarous transgressions of the German Government. It showed from what unmeasured perils and from what set-back to civilisation mankind had been delivered.

<fNow that the Allies have for ever "shattered the dreams of German hegemony and Prussian militarism, which was our object, we have no 'Other wish for the German democracy than that, after shaking off this soul-destroying incubus, it should learn the lessons and enjoy fully the blessings of freedom. Our first aim ■is not the restoration of the status quo, but the establishment of an international system under which nations great and small shall be ensured a stable foundation and independent development. I assume, as a matter of course, the enemy's evacuation of occupied territories in France and. Russia. I have already referred to Alsace and Belgium. Wherever we turn in Central and Eastern Europe we see artificial territorial arrangements offending the populations concerned, and which must remain as long as we continue ■to sow the seeds of plots, unrest, and potential war."

Li conclusion Mr Asquith referred to the claims of Italy, Roumania, Serbia, Poland, Greece, and the southern Slavs. There must be a complete and permanent liquidation of these dangerou.s accounts, on the lines of racial jifniiity, and the historic tradition and aspirations of the inhabitants. "Our ideal is tho. creation of a world-wide policy uniting the peoples in o. confederation of which justice wiii be the base, and liberty the corner-stone, and the limitation of armaments and international arbitration will be the milestones over tho nnvl leading to its attainment."