MR LLOYD GEORGE'S CONFIDENCE.
MESSAGE TO NEW ZEALAND. VICTORY THIS YEAR. WELLINGTON, January 4. The Prime Minister has received, through the Governor-general, the following cable from Mr Lloyd George:— " At the beginning of a new year I wic-h to send, on behalf of our War Cabinet, to tho Government and people of New Zealand a message of goodwill and confidence. We are now far on in tho fourth year of the war. Despite many set-backs and many disappointments, we are also far on in tho path to victory. I have no doubt that if the Allies stand firm they will not only restore liberty to Europe, but give lasting peace to the world. In the accomplishment of this great work no peoples will have played a greater part than those who are members of British Obmrnonwealth. Against, their steadfast courage the legions of autocracy have cast themselves in vain, and tho Empire which the militarists of Prussia persuaded themselves would crumble at a blow has proved itself the most united, tho most massive of tho bulwarks of freedom, becauso it is self-sprung from the eternal soil of freedom. I haVe good hopes that before this now year is past.the purpose to which we have set our hands will have been completely achieved." MR MASSEY'S REPLY. Mr Masscy cabled the following reply: "I desire, on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, to thank you and the War Cabinet for your new year's message of goodwill and confidence, which will be greatly appreciated by the citizens of the dominion. Your opinion that we arc far on in the path to victory is ono in which New Zealanders share, and coming from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the statement will be hailed ' with additional pleasure, and will serve to strengthen still more the confidence already felt here. The people of New Zealand are proud to think that in the colossal struggle of. the three and a-half years British citizens have taken a leading part, and that to-day the Empire is more firmly united than at any period of its history, while its peoples are more than ever determined to carry on to a victorious conclusion. We trust that the Allies will stand together until a decisive victory lias been gained, and that no terms will be considered which, if agreed to, may result in anything other than a permanent peace, and at the same time me a salutary warning to covetous and unscrupulous nations in the future."
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Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 26
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419MR LLOYD GEORGE'S CONFIDENCE. Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 26
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