Chapter 66
_The Marquess of Lansdowne_--I feel that it would be almost impertinent on my part to say a word after the extraordinarily interesting statement to which we have just listened. But I should be sorry if complete silence on our part lent itself to the interpretation that we are indifferent to the great topics which the Secretary of State for War has dealt with in his speech. May we be permitted to say that we regard with the profoundest admiration and grat.i.tude what the n.o.ble Field Marshal described as the great feat of arms which has been accomplished by the British force since its arrival at the seat of war, and to add also that we share the feelings which the n.o.ble and gallant lord has expressed with regard to the immense services rendered by Sir John French to this country, services which he, of course, could not bear witness to in the dispatch he sent home? [Cheers.] There are only two other remarks which, with great deference, I would venture to make. One has reference to the n.o.ble and gallant lord's statement in regard to the response made to his appeal to the country for recruits. That response has been memorable and admirable and, considering the immense influx of recruits which have come in, we can scarcely be surprised that in the early days the strain should have been rather greater than either the War Office or the local authorities were able to cope with. But we have every reason to believe that that has been corrected, and I have no doubt that all will now go smoothly and well. We have all heard with the greatest satisfaction the announcement that the separation allowances to the wives of regulars and territorials are to be considerably increased. ["Hear, hear!"]
Considering what our soldiers are doing for us at the seat of war, the least we can do is to provide liberally for the relatives whom they have left behind in this country. [Cheers.]
PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.
Speech by King George V. Read Before Both Houses, Sept. 18.
The Lord Chancellor read the King's speech, which was in the following terms:
My Lords and Gentlemen: I address you in circ.u.mstances that call for action rather than for speech.
After every endeavor had been made by my Government to preserve the peace of the world, I was compelled, in the a.s.sertion of treaty obligations deliberately set at nought, and for the protection of the public law of Europe and the vital interests of my empire, to go to war.
My navy and army have, with unceasing vigilance, courage, and skill, sustained, in a.s.sociation with gallant and faithful allies, a just and righteous cause.
From every part of my empire there has been a spontaneous and enthusiastic rally to our common flag.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons: I thank you for the liberality with which you have met a great emergency.
My Lords and Gentlemen: We are fighting for a worthy purpose, and we shall not lay down our arms until that
I rely with confidence upon the loyal and united efforts of all my subjects, and I pray that Almighty G.o.d may give us His blessing.
Then a commission for proroguing the Parliament was read, after which the Lord Chancellor said:
My Lords and Gentlemen: By virtue of his Majesty's commission, under the great seal, to us and other lords directed, and now read, we do, in his Majesty's name and in obedience to his commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the twenty-seventh day of October, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the twenty-seventh day of October, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
Summons of the Nation to Arms
British People Roused by Their Leaders.
Earl Curzon of Kedleston Suggests Holding of Public Meetings.
Hackwood, Basingstoke, Aug. 27.
_To the Editor of The Times:_
Sir: Many of us are wondering what we can do to serve our country in this crisis. We sit on local or on larger committees. We attempt, within the narrow range of our influence, to gain recruits, we organize relief, we help to provide or furnish hospitals, we subscribe both to the national and to private funds; and, apart from this, we go about our ordinary duties with as much composure as we can, wondering where, when, and how it will be open to us who are no longer young and cannot bear arms, but have perhaps had some experience of affairs, to render more effective aid.
Does not a path lie open to the cla.s.s of so-called "public men,"
and does not the very name which is given to them indicate the nature of this duty? Surely it is to place themselves at the disposal of the public. The two great needs of the moment are more men--hundreds of thousands more men--for the army, and a clearer understanding by the ma.s.ses of the population, not merely of the justice of our cause, but of the supreme issues, both for our own country and for the whole empire, that are involved.
No one would propose that jingo speeches should be shouted from public platforms, or that an attempt should be made to inflame crude or unworthy pa.s.sions. But the man who, when his country is engaged in a righteous war and is fighting for her existence, preaches the cause of that war is not a jingo; and the pa.s.sions to which he appeals are not unworthy, but are the n.o.blest of which human nature is capable.
I wish, therefore, to say that if the Government, with whom the initiative must primarily lie--since no one would wish to do anything that is contrary to their conception of sound policy--desire that public meetings should be held in our great centres of population, to explain the cause and circ.u.mstances of the war, and the duty that lies upon the manhood of the nation, I and, I am convinced, many others are ready to throw ourselves into the task.
I have told the Prime Minister that I would be proud to appear on a public platform with any member of the Government to state or defend a case in which party is dead and where we are all united. I doubt not that if they are required many others will be willing to do the same. We have no desire to deluge the country with a flood of noisy rhetoric, or to start a miniature electioneering campaign.
But if in any great city where recruiting is slow or the issues are not apprehended, or the public conscience is not quick to respond to the national summons, I, or any of those who share my views, can be of any service on the platform I am sure that we are willing to respond and that we shall welcome any organization that may be set on foot for the purpose. I am, yours obediently,
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.
PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER.
Addressed to the Lord Mayor of London, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the Lord Mayor of Cardiff.
My Lords: The time has come for combined effort to stimulate and organize public opinion and public effort in the greatest conflict in which our people has ever been engaged.
No one who can contribute anything to the accomplishment of this supremely urgent task is justified in standing aside.
I propose, as a first step, that meetings should be held without delay, not only in our great centres of population and industry, but in every district, urban and rural, throughout the United Kingdom, at which the justice of our cause should be made plain, and the duty of every man to do his part should be enforced.
I venture to suggest to your lords.h.i.+ps that the four princ.i.p.al cities over which you respectively preside should lead the way.
I am ready myself, so far as the exigencies of public duty permit, to render such help as I can, and I should be glad, with that object, to address my fellow-subjects in your cities.
I have reason to know that I can count upon the co-operation of the leaders of every section of organized political opinion. Your faithful servant,
H.H. ASQUITH.
28th August, 1914.