PEACE TALK.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16619, 26 August 1918, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

Dlt SOIL'S SPEECH. CRITICISED BY LORD CECIL. THE COLONIES QUESTION. Australian and N Jj. Calilo A«n. Received 5.5 p.m., Aug. 25th. -,.r LONDON, Aug. 24.

Lord Robert Cecil, in a statement on Dr Solf's speech, says:—Dr Solf's remarkable utterances represent a considerable change, mainly directed to America's opinion. ■lt reflects thv trend of German opinion. Dr Solf has begun to realise that the pasGerman doctrine, is disastrous, and bo refers to such principles as being held only by a small .group without political or Government influence. He claims that the Government strongly combated them.

".Nevertheless," Lord Bobert Cecil adds, "the pan-Germans or Junkers have great iniluence in Germany. Only a few weeks ago they exhibited their power by securing Dr Kuhlmann's dismissal because of his view that there was no likelihood of Germany's being able to secure- a military decision? in her favour. Dr Solf s statement regarding Belgium undoubtedly represents a step towards decency. He says that Belgium would not be any nation's vassal, but Baron Hertling recently said the same thing, with serious qualifications, notably that there must bo a close commercial connection with Germany. Hence Dr Solf's statement is extremely unsatisfactory, especially as he reminded his hearers of Hertling's promises. If Dr Solf'wishes to indicate Germany's wil_ lingness to liberate and restore Belgium, let him say so plainly. Dr Solf's assertion that Germany, by the Brest Litovsk treaty, inaugurated. - number of small States, which Germany at their request will protect temporarily, shows a chance in the people of Germany, who have hitherto regarded the Brest treaty as the first fruits of victory. -Dr Solf vaguely claims that the colonies shall revert to Germany. He particularly "reprehends the suggestion that Germany has not ciren a good account of her stewardship of coloured races. I believe Germany's treatment of coloured peoples has been brutal and repugnant. The Government intends soon to publish a record of Germany's colonial misrule. When Mr Balfour said 'the colonies won't bo restored' ho reflected the consensus of opinion of tbo world acquainted with Germany's colonial record. Dr Solf was wrong in saying that we claimed che right to annex them. Mr Balfour said that their fate would be decided at the peace conference. "What Mr Balfour ruled out was the suggestion that they could be returned to Germany.

"Dr Solf's reference to the evils and miseries of carnage is <»nl.v too true, but it represents an entire change in German feeling, even since last April, when Hindenburg's extravagant war aims were in the ascendant. Dr Snlf claims to he an upholder of the League of Nations. It would he criminal not to achieve an international system which is better than the nresent system, but. we ?«e 7io hop? or this unless the Entente are victorious and Germany acknowledges that her whole system is a profound error."