RATIFICATION BILL DEBATE.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 151034, 28 July 1919, Page 5

RATIFICATION BILL DEBATE.

SPEECH BY MR LLOYD GEORGE.

SUBSTANTIAL COMPENSATION

FOR BRITAIN

UTTERMOST FARTHING EXACTED,

THE FRENCH GUARANTEES.

tAustrahan and N.Z. Cable Association

London, July 24. In the House of Commons, replying to the debate on the second reading of the Treaty of Peace Ratification Bill, Mr Lloyd George said that in his opinion the Government and the Peace Conference had every reason to be gratified at the nature of the debate, as in the main the House had accepted the Treaty. He believed that public opinion concurred. The discussion also covered the Treaty entered into between France, America," and Britain. It had been asked why this Treaty was necessary. It was no proof of want of confidence on the part of the French people. "We must remember the natural I anxiety and nervoxisness of France in the face of this "terrible menace. Tha League of Nations must necessarily be treated as a great experiment. France naturally said she believed in the experiment, and would do her best to carry it out; but France would like to feel behind her the might and power of the British Empire and the United States in order that the League might have a better chance of establishing itself as a permanent organisation. The criticism of the Treaty of Peace itself had been mutually destructive. Some criticised because we had gone too far in exacting^ indemnities; others said we had not gono far enough. As regards reparation, Britain had got substantial compensation for the whole of the shipping sunk, for the lives lost, and for injury sustained by sailors, s well as for all damage in respect of air raids, which was very considerable. Moreover, compensation had to be paid in respect of all pensions and allowances, which would be a very considerable relief. He asked, Was there the remotest chance of exacting all the costs of the war? The total cost of the war for the whole of the Allies was £30,000,000,000. The question was examined by the most able Allied experts, who endeavoured to exact the uttermost farthing possible from Germany, and it was beyond doubt they had done Xfc.

There was criticism that the compensation was indeterminate, but it was impossible to determine the figure because none could estimate the damage to devastated regions extending over 400 miles by 30 miles. If a definite amount was fixed we should simply have transferred uncertainty from Germany to France. We had given Germany the opportunity of sending experts through the devastated regions •to make their own estimate. If such was submitted within four months and was fair, France would accept it. Germany had lost three-quarters of her iron ore, one-third of her coal, 7,000 000 ot her population and the whole of her colonies. Nobody thought Germany could pay the whole cost of the war namely, £1,800,000,000 yearly, even it the whole of these territories nad been under her control All tue Allied experts concluded that the reparation attached to the Treaty was the limit of .Germany s capacity to pay. He said they had taken the right course to end conscription. They could not end armaments until they struck at the roots of Prussian militarism, which was the root cause of conscription in Britain Jbrance, Italy, Russia, and' America! -therefore, Prussianism had been uprooted. It was impracticable for us to immediately abolish conscription. A good peace had been secured only because Germany recognised that with tne existence of the armies on her soil we would be -able to impose our own terms The Treaty of Versailles wou'd .nave been impossible without the armies in fthineland. He was of opinion that by the new year a voluntary army would suffice, for all our requirements overseas. i

As regards the trial of the ex-Kaiser, Mr Lloyd George said the persons responsible for the awful slaughter should not escape trial. The Allies had sufficient confidence in Britain that whoever came here would have a trial equal to the highest traditions of the British Orovernment, and there were none higher all the world over. If war was to be ended it must be treated as a great crime, not as an honourable game. That was why, after reflection, the person who was as the author of the war would be tried for his crimes.