War-time Speeches: A Compilation of Public Utterances in Great Britain |
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achieved Allies America armies autocracy basis Boer British Commonwealth British Empire cause Central Africa century civilisation co-operation Colonies common Commonwealth of nations continuous consultation cracy danger deal demo democracy democratic develop devise difficult Dominions effort England enormous Europe feel sure fighting forces fought free nations freedom FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS Germany going greatest group of nations heart honour hope human ideals ideas Imperial Conference Imperial War Cabinet Imperial War Conference important institutions League of Nations liberty Lord Bryce Lord French matter ment merely mind moral native never numbers occasion once opinion organisation peace treaty political population possible principles problem progress 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 union United whole world womanhood
Popular passages
Page 12 - ... upon 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 ui.vy OLC\«VU\YU»-.
Page 12 - The Imperial War 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 33 - 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 33 - 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 6 - Africa by one wise act of statesmanship which has already borne, and will continue to bear, the most far-reaching results in the history of this Empire. This completed what was begun in the Boer War, and it switched South Africa again on to the right track and the British 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...
Page 34 - 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 26 - 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 27 - ... that train, but for some reason or other I said, "No, let it pass." You can imagine my feelings when some time afterwards I learned that the only freight on that train was Sir John French with one or two ADC's, moving round from one part of his front to another to find out how I had broken through. If I had not missed that chance, he would have been my guest, no doubt very welcome, though no doubt embarrassing. Fate has willed otherwise. I am his guest. Those were very difficult and strenuous...
Page 33 - Your whole idea and basis is entirely different. You do not want to standardise the nations of the British Empire; you want to develop them towards greater, fuller nationality. These communities, the offspring of the mother country, or territories like my own, which have been annexed after the vicissitudes of war, must not be moulded on any one pattern. You want them to develop freely on the principles of selfgovernment, and therefore your whole idea is different from anything that has existed before.
Page 31 - Empire" is misleading, because it makes people think that we are one community, to which the word "Empire" can appropriately be applied. Germany is an Empire. Rome was an Empire. India is an Empire. But we are a system of nations. We are not a State, but a community of States and nations.