ABOUT THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17097, 31 August 1917, Page 8

ABOUT THE WAR

THOUGHTS OF LEADER'S. (Fbom Our Own Cohbespondent.) LONDON, June 12. Lord L-esborough, at the British Imperial Council of Commerce:—"With regard to our own economic future and the gigantic, wat debt; which has been piled up, I estimato that even if the war stopped toinorrow we should find ourselves biu-dened with a debt of four thousand millions, the interest and sinking fund charges upon -which would represent a> liability of something like 240 millions a year, apart from our ordinary expenses of Government and without taking into consideration the heavy demands thnt would be made for increased expenditure on education, housing, and other charges following on the i war. On the other side of the account wo have the enormous and largely undeveloped assets of the British Empire. It was said that after the Civil War in the United States the wealth of that country vas estimated at 3000 millions, but after a not very long, period, so great had been tho national development that its wealth was estimated at 40,000 millions. In view of the fact that the British Empire comprises two-thirds of tho habitable globe, it is not rash to assume that by a policy of wise and prudent and energctio development we may so reduce the burden of indebtedness that wo shall be able to pass our Imperial heritage on to our successors with a gTeatly diminished burden of debt as compared with tho_ war period. In this connection I am delighted to see that the Dominions Royal Commission has, independently of the British Imperial Council of 'Commerce, unanimously resolved to advocate tho formation of an Imperial Development Board—a ' proposal, which we hopo will meet with tho I greatest success." '

NO STATUS QUO ANTE President Wilson, to Russia: "The position of America in this war is so clearly avowed that no man can be excused for mjstaking it. She is fighting for no advantage or selfish object of her own, but for the liberation of peoples everywhere from the aggressions of autocratic force The Imperial German Government and those whom it is using for their own undoinc are seeking to obtain pledgee that the war will end on the restoration of the statu* T £™? the status quo Intf out of which this iniquitous war issued forth the power of the Imperial German Government within the Empire and its widespread domination and influenco outside of that Empire. That status must bo altered in such a fashion as to prevent any such nideous thing from ever happening again Wo are fighting again for liberty, the selfgovernment, and. the undictated develop ment of all peoples. Wrongs must first be righted and then adequate safeguards must be. created _to prevent their being committed again. Practical questions can be settled only by practical means. Phrases will not accomplish tho result. No people must be forced under a sovereignty under which it does not wish to live. No territory most change hands except for the purpose of securing those who inhabit it a fair chance of life and libertv. No indemnities must bo insisted on except those that constitute payment for manifest wrongs done. For these things we can afford to pour out blood and treasure, and unless wo pour out the blood and treasure now and succeed we may never bo able to unite or show conquering foroo again in the great cause of human liberty. The day has come to conquer or submit.- If the forces of autocracy can divide us they will overcome. If we stand together victory is certain and the liberty which victory will secure."