MR ASQUITH

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15445, 7 September 1914, Page 5

MR ASQUITH

ANOTHER GREAT SPEECH. JUSTIFIES EMPIRB'S ACTION. Press Asaociatfon —By Tel. —Copyright. , Received 5.5 p.m., Sept. 6th. LONDON, Sept- 4The Prime Minister, Mr Asqurth, in a speech at the Guildhall, said that Britain, with the Empire, ws involved in thf> war with a clear conscience. If Kritain. hat! stood aloof white the independence- of smaU heroic nations was twins strangled she would have been basely t'al*e to her plighted word, fake' to her friend* and her henour—shown nld helplessly hare> witneswd count]t.?w outrages and buccaneering terse*. "The world had witnessed thf greatest crime against civilisation iiaee the r itirty War:-. War—the sacking cf train, and the shameUiw holocaust treasures which had destroyed by ba..iartan vengeance. ,j,nd wonld have been wanting in ."Ihity if in defiance «f her solemn •/TO® At ton* she had not done her best to prevent and avengo thesf. intolerable outrages. The violation e>l Belgium was the- first step towards crashing the indfpenclpnce of Holland and Switzerland. Britain had strhvn for peace. Germany alone vran responsible for the war. The situation everywhere gave abundant cause for pride and comfort. Britain must perserovo to the end.'' LONDON, Sept. S (a.m.). Turning to. the situation in Europe Mr Asquith said:. "New and fleeter relation.* with France and Russia had matured into settled confidence and goodwill but at nr» time was that ur.flirstanding against other Powers. When the Austrian ultimatum was delivered t<> Sert'ia, Sir Edward Grey, pursuing

the pacific policy he had a:!ui>:ed i throughout the Balkan crisis, a mediating conference. It this. had I been accepted the whole ot tiiLs terr;hle slaughter would have been avo.d-;d. Germany alono is responsible for the war and its illimitable suffering- Germany is the fount and origin of this ■world-wide catastrophe. We persevered to the end for peace by every expcdcnt of diplomacy, even straining the most cherished friendship and obligations. Only when it was realised that the choice lay between honour and dishonour, tivaehety and gcod faith, we d elded for war. J)oe» anyone throaguout the Empire regret- the decision r I believe not, and that the people of the Empire would rather see Great Britain blotted from the page o;' history thin acqniescti. in the triumph of force over freedom in Belgium. '•\Vo must steel ourselves to the task ; in thospirit of ottr forefathers' struggle' against Napoleons dominion. It would ] !>o criminal to under estimate the magnitude of the forces against us, and equally indefenstb'e to belittle our own resources. Belgium'.-. glorious example has shown what a small Stau» cau do. In France and R'issia. Britain has as Allies two of the greatest Powers iu the world; she has on the seas the strongest ar.d mcst magnificent Fleet ever Men. Ttu- Expeditionary Force has shewn by glorioles achievements, physi- ! cal and moral qualities never surpassed. We rely on our Xavy with absolute conftdor.ce to guard ottr short s and seal up the enemy's battleships in heT own ports, whence they may furtively steal : and sow murderous snares menacing neutral shipping more than the British Fleet. British ships have hunted the German mercantile marine from the | seas, and have kept our food supplies open. When the few remaining cruisers still at large are disposed of, Bri- . tish security will he crj-mpfet,;.. as in a I time of ttttT>rt>ken peace. Our self-go-verning Dominions throughout tTie Km-

fire v. ithnitt solicitation have demonstrated. v.ith a >::onta!ier>i;-; unanimity unparatle'i.! in h'V,..>ry. their determinattv>rt ti> t!:«*:r hrxht rhood with us a:nt tt:a!;e uttr cause their own. Canada. Australia. New Zealand. South Africa, and Xev. iV»inutl:i:t<! a~- rt. not as an obligation hut as a privilege, their risht and wd'-inixne-s. to contribute mor.»y. materia!, and better than a'!, tho s"rerurth, the sinus, th" fortunes and tho live.-* of their hot men. India al-e has claimed lie;- >haro in tho com- " Kverv class and cieed nl the British nation. princes and pooi.l\ Hindus and Mohamm-dans. vie in liolilo rivalry. Wo v,f!ramo their association side Uy side and should, r to shoulder with the 1 loi'V arid. Dominions" troops, tinder the I mi; which is the symbol to al! of a unity that a world in arms cannot dis-eter of di-solve. Since- Lord Kitchener issued his tail for recruits. li'/tiwn two hundred and fifty and time hundred t-torsnnd have responded. of which London turn!shed tnr'ytwc< thousand. W.- are watchin«r the tiiu illations of fortune on the c.t a protracted slrutiulo, and mr.n learn to take Ion;: vieas and .-'.llivate pattcrf:o, rndi'.raaco and stead a~;n i •». Lot us iLa'i- - that wo are *• ias a united Kiup-iv in a < at:~e worthy o: the traditions of our race, and maintain an undefeated and unbroken front, "lite younger Pitt, in this very hall, declared —' England has saved herself !>v her exertion, and will I trust, save Enrc>- by ltor exampio.' Entriand in thos* days secured frendopa for Europe. I.et us 20 and do ltk- wiso. OTHER SPEECHES. | Mli BOX Alt LAW. Mr Donar Law said tho key of pen 00 and war was in Borlin. The Kaiser need only liavo vhispored Peace, and there would have been 110 war. Hut. ho drew the sword, and we we: o fi.u'UirttJ for our national ex : sto!K-o. for th. moral forces of humanity. for against tttiiih:. Mr Jlonar Law dee'a:v;l that tliis war was one of tho create " cr.mc.s irt history. Britain had no share in *tho res;»ons : biiity for it. The Kaiser had drawn tho sword and his accttrs-d system must perish by tho sword. Tho destruction ot Louvain had fixed en indelible stain on German honour. Mtt cnrncHiLL. Mr Church:'!! said—"Britain can rely with ouiot o- the strength and cff:c : e!:ry of th? Xavy, which pivs tin;? and tiica::*" to e:\--a". •> ihr* powerinl military *.oiv:-s nereisary h:»:ore th? war could l> - c-r.ded. Wo have only ta ondttro to conquer." Tho mooting carried a r.?o'ut : on to support- all mea<t:rs for prr.seyutin;; the war to a viettrious co:K-h:sio:i. Th-> was osto of t!io most stirring in tho city's history. Thr-ro '■'■ as an immense aud : onco and enormo-.ts crowds o-ttside. ilr Asf|tt:th. Mr Bonar T.aw. Mr Churchill. Mr Balfour. and the Primate received cvations. Tho Lord Mayor presided.