THE CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12066, 23 July 1917, Page 5

THE CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH.

MR LLOYD GEORGE'* COMMENTS. DEMOCRACY DEMANDS GUARANTEES. BELGIUM MUST YE RESTORED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 23, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON July 22. Mr Lloyd George,' after saying that on tho whole the German Chancellor's speech meant that the military party had momentarily won. proceeded to reaffirm that the form of Germany's government was the Germans' own affair. '• But," he acded, ': what manner of Government v.e can trust to make peace with is f»iv business. Democracy has not its guarantee of peace, and if yon can lint got it in Germany, then wn must secure other guarantee as a substitute. The Chai cellor's speech showed that Germany for the moment electeel for war- Belgium was not. even mentioned. Its phraseology is full of menace. Belgium the German frontier secure, makes Mctz and Strass-

burg safe, and they will take Liego and control Antwerp in order to secure German economic interests. The determination of the Allies is that Belgium must be restored as a free and independent people, and not become a protectorate. " I read Dr Michaelis's speech, ' he continued, "as was my duty, once, twice and thrice to seek anything from which I could hope to end the bloody struggle. I see in it a sham independence for Belgium, a sham democracy for Germany, and a sham peace for Europe- And I say Europe has not {sacrificed, millions of her gallant sons to re-establish on a soil consecrated by their blood a mere sanctuary for shams. Dr Michaelis tries to dope his people with illustrious Germany, but he will find that these visions, like others, will be dispelled." • Continuing, the Prime Minister said: "I am sorry to disillusion Dr Micbaelis at the outset of his career, but truth compels me to show that gradually but surely we are increasing our production and diminishing our losses at sea. Although our apprehensions were great during tho summer months Ave have gradually decreased _

our losses. 'For example, comparing the three weeks of July with the corresponding period of April wo have not lost half the number of &hips. We will turn out in 1.918 four times the, number of ships wo did in 1916. In the lasr. two months of 1917 we, shall turn ou; as many ships its we did during tho whole or' last year. 'Wo will turn out in 1918 six times more than in 191b. Far from starving us. owing to the exertions of the Food Controller and tho Shipping Controller, our food supply for 1917-18. on the basis of present consumption is .secure. "Wo arc arranging a programme for cultivation to make J. 918 secure, even if the losses are increased. .1 do not want the Germans to harbour any delusions that they are going to put us out of this fight till liberty is re-established throughout the world. A great German newspaper the other day said that Germany is fighting for the freedom and independence of the Fatherland. That was never true. Tho freer Germany is the hotter wo like it. Her rulers and not the Allies are tho enemies of the freedom of Germany. "Wo could make peace with free Germany, but cannot with Germany dominated by an autocracy. Since the Russian revolution and the Russian offer to concede independence to the nation under the Russian flag, the last shadow of a pretext that Germany i.s fighting for freci-mt is banished. Ii is now a strugp 1 a group representing den, * and freemen and a group of natio. jverned by a military autocracy."