SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 144, 17 June 1918, Page 5

SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH

A CRITICAL STAGE,

'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.;

Mr Asnnith June 14. cep-ST ' had aD reDuring the course of a speech he >t was useless to cloak ifflStii £* in *£%*?* reac^ ed critical point m the fortunes of the war. H© however wished to say decisively and withhadTapined on the Western front since the end of March which should weaken our allegiance to the great cause we were fighting for, or our determination to press on to victory." We were fighting against superior numbers under unfavourable conditions. Wo had stubbornly .obtested every mile, arid the retir-smc'Jt was not marked! by a single trace of panic or demoralisation. Our withdrawal was conducted with coolness, gallantry, and unfailing readiness to take advantage of opportunities to counterattack. The tide of invasion had not yet steadied, and we herefore should try to imagine our feelings if the enemy were as close to London a s they were, to Paris. Then we would be able to measure the perils and anxieties of our gallant Allies. It would be follj- to attempt *to forecast the pending strategic developments, but there was a situation of equal gravity at the beginning of the war, but that threat was brought to ' nothing by the counter-strokes of genius and audacity. The way the enemy dealt with Russia and Roumania showed thar Germany's triumph would; be the death knell to all democratic ideals. German methods of warfare bad brought the United States into the war. America's entry into the conflict was introducing new methods in world affairs, and, for example, the old diplomacy must .take its place among antiquities interesting j only to collectors and dealers. It was : useless to attempt to forecast the fu--1 tare, but tile only peace worth making or taking was one which would Open a new road free of toll to all peoples, great or small, a road whicb was safeguarded by the common will and common power of all nations for future progress and humanity. The British Empire had already raised an army of seven millions and spent seven thousand millions in money, ycit it Qiad done this without any selfish object, except perhaps self-defence.' The -verdict of history would require that such sacrifices | were not made in vain. Personally he thought that we had reached a stage of tho war when there should be no ■ fear in laying before the people the actualities of the situation, whether favourable or adverse. Tho British all

over* the world were ready to face with clear eyes and cool nerves any conjunction of circumstances, but if the truth were told there was a reciprocal duty on the part of the public. War always provided an atmosphere for absurdf And cheaper forms of advertisement, sensa-tion-mongering, and the cruder things in public life. These at times found a ready market among people of low intelligence aud high credulity. (Cheers and laughter). «Tie real danger, however, was not in this direction, but m the fear that in the stress of daily bulletins recording doubtful battles and occasional yieldings of ground wo should be tempted to lose our sense of proportion The public must take large views and not distort things. There was never a time when honest and patriotic criticism would be more valuable. If we kept our eyes fixed and our hearts set on the grant dominating purpose _to which we had consecrated our energies, we might reply with certainty that it would be achieved. :Lord Milner, speaking at the YIM.C.A. headquarters, said Germany was now at the climax of her power. Therefore we must fight as never before in our history, as our noble French allies were fighting to-day, until America was fully mobilised.. Von Stein had been sneering at Americas power, but he thought h! would live to regret those Bn Lo7d Milner concluded: "Beware of criSm of our Allies and former allies. Nothrng could be more unreasonable than abuse of Russia. One does not abuse a delirious man, who is striking a blow at his fnend.'