BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13700, 15 September 1908, Page 7

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

PLEA BY CHANCELLOR.

An important speech on Anglo-German relations —following on the lines of the Foreign Secretary's statement in the House —was delivered on July 28th by Mr Lloyd Georgd, Chancellor of the Exchequer, at a mjeting held in the Queen's Hall, London, under the auspices of the Universal Peace Congress. Unfortunately, the immediate effect was somewhat marred by continuous interruptions, by . womui suffragists, some twenty of whom wtfo ejected, it seems particularly unfortunate tliftt these scenes should have been wumssed by the many foreign delegates, who appeared surprised at- the patience of the audience. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was received with a. great outburst of cheering, in which the loreign delegates took a conspicuous part, began with a reference to the- Old Age Pensions Bill. There were some noblemen who thoughtthe Government ought to save a. little off pensions for old people in order to provide more money tor armaments, l" Shame-.' - ) "My principle ' as- Chancellor of the Exchequer," said Mr George, "is—'less money for the. production of suffering 'and more; money Jor the reduction ol suffering.'" (Cheers.) It was amazing that in th 6 twentieth century Christian communities spent, iia) millions a. year in preparing one nation 10 kill- another. Vvhy, he asked, should nations assume this murderous attitude towards each other? He adopted the economic argument. In Germany there wer& .labourers preparing beet to' sell to us. Why should they want- to kill us, their best customers? VVe bought tens ol million's of goods from Germany. ' Why should they want to kill us? They bougui, about thirty million of goods trom us. When a man came to a- shop lo trade the shopkeeper did not knock him down with a cannon ball! (Laughtr aud' cheers.i AFRAID OF EACH OTHER. .' The Chancellor proceeded to deprecate the attitude of those who, in this country, were under .the impre.>.-.ion that Germany meant to -attack England, ajid the" others in Geriiiainy who wae equally convinced that, England was pieparmg to attack Germany. Proceeding to point out that these scares about Germany "tie not new, Mr Lloyd George asked, " VViiy should Germany be afraid of us 7 ."Y\ell, we started it, not Germany. --'-We had an overwhelming preponderance at •■ sea, which would have secured us against any conceivable" enemy. "But w r e were not satisfied- We said, 'Let,there be Dreadnoughts.' "What for? We did not' require them. NoIx/dy was building iht-m.. But we always say, that, in order to make ourselves ; secure against invasion, we must have a two-Pawer standard of [he Navy. " But look at the position of Germany ! The army is to her what our Navy is to us—her sole defence against invasion. She is between two great Powers, which in combination can pour in a vaotly greater number of troops than she has. And do not forget, when you. wonder that Germany is frightened at alliances and •understandings of some sort that she is frightened at the very things that would frighten us. "1 do not want our friends to think I hat. because Germany is a, little frightened she means mischief. Let us remember tli.it she is frightened for what would frighten us. What we want is a. clearing up of misunderstandings. (Oheens.) -GREAT PROGRESSIVE POWERS." "it is deplorable that two great Progressive Powers, two great . Progrefsive communities like Germany and Britain should not be able to establish a good understanding. We have done n with France ; we have done it with Russia ; we have done it, with the United Staters. We have had our feuds and troubles and Giispicions, but we are now on terms ofthe most perfect cordiality with all threeof these Powers. (Cheers.) "Why could not we rope in Germany - ', (Loud and prolonged cheers.) 'We are spending in this count 17 erery year 60,000,000 of money in preparations for war. (Cries of " Shame.") I am not going to point out what a stupendous waste -this' is, or-suggest what • might be done with the money in trade and commerce, in improving the condition of -the- people, in generally elevating (hem above (lie level of despair. "We have oilier enemies to light—intemperance, ignorance, eiiine, vice, and' that most dread of all invaders llial sooner or later entens every Innie. Are the do minions of- death not wide enough that the nations should spend .GIOO.OOd in extending them - ' There were crusades in Middle Ag"-*. There is a nobler crusade awaiting the nations and peoples today. Let them cast aside suspicion, mistrust, quarrelling*, feuds, and let " them unite in redeeming humanity from the quagmire in which millions are sunk in misery ami despair." (Loud and prolonged cheers) .1