War-time Speeches: A Compilation of Public Utterances in Great Britain, Issue 4 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achieved Allies America armies autocracy basis Boer British Commonwealth British Empire cause Central Africa century civilisation Colonies common Commonwealth of nations continuous consultation danger deal democracy democratic develop difficult Dominions DORAN COMPANY effort England enormous feel sure fighting forces Ford Madox Hueffer fought free nations freedom FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL Germany going greatest group of nations heart honour hope human ideals ideas Imperial Conference Imperial War Cabinet important institutions League of Nations liberty Lord Bryce Lord French matter merely military mind moral native never numbers occasion Old World once opinion organised peace treaty pire political population possible principles problem question races realise resolution result Russia seen self-government Serbia settlement Sir Robert Borden Smuts solution soul South Africa Southern Africa Speech delivered spirit struggle thing tion to-day to-night traditions trying union United vast victory whole world young
Popular passages
Page 12 - They deem it their duty, however, to place on record their view that any such readjustment, while thoroughly preserving all existing powers of selfgovernment and complete control of domestic affairs, should be based upon a full recognition of the Dominions as autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth...
Page 10 - Conference are of opinion that the readjustment of the constitutional relations of the component parts of the Empire is too important and intricate a subject to be dealt with during the War, and that it should form the subject of a special Imperial Conference to be summoned as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities.
Page 10 - ... a full recognition of the Dominions as autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth, and of India as an important portion of the same, should recognise the right of the Dominions and India to an adequate voice in foreign policy and in foreign relations, and should provide effective arrangements for continuous consultation in all important matters of common Imperial concern, and for such necessary concerted action, founded on consultation, as the several Governments may determine.
Page 28 - That is what I feel in all the empires of the past, and even in the United States — the effort has been towards forming one nation. All the empires that we have known in the past and that exist today...
Page 28 - That is the fundamental fact we have to bear in mind — that this British Commonwealth of nations does not stand for standardisation or denationalisation, but for the fuller, richer, and more various life of all the nations comprised in it.
Page 3 - Empire again on to the right track because, after all, the British Empire is not founded on might or force, but on moral principles — on principles of freedom, equality, and equity. It is these principles which we stand for to-day as an Empire in this mighty struggle. Our opponent, the German Empire, has never learned that lesson yet in her short history. She still believes that might is right — that a military machine is sufficient to govern the world. She has not yet...
Page 82 - Europe whether they are going to allow a state of affairs like that to be possible, and to become a menace not only to Africa, but perhaps to Europe itself. I hope that one of the results of this war will be some arrangement or convention among the nations interested in Central Africa by which the military training of natives in that area will be prevented, as we have prevented it in South Africa.
Page 29 - The question arises: How are you going to keep this Commonwealth of Nations together? If there is to be this full development towards a more varied and richer life among our nations, how are you going to keep them together? It seems to me that there are two potent factors that you must rely upon for the future. The first is your hereditary kingship, the other is our Conference system. I have seen some speculations recently in the newspapers about the position of the kingship in this country— specur...
Page 21 - Empire — and one whose mind is not yet deeply furrowed with trenches and dugouts — I would like first of all to say how profoundly thankful I am to Lord French for the words which have fallen from his lips. Your expressions in regard to myself are largely, I feel, undeserved. At any rate, I accept them as coming from an old opponent and comrade in arms. I know they are meant in the best spirit, and I accept them as such. Your words recall to my mind many an incident of those stirring times when...
Page 14 - ... experiment has been tried in the United States and, it is said, with great success. Well, of course, the experiment in the United States has not lasted very long, and we must see whether it will continue successfully under the stress of the great experience into which America is now entering. But I am now informed by those who are very close observers of American government and American institutions that they are certain that the experiment has reached its utmost limits. In that case you have...