courage of our forefathers, by great deeds of heroism and adventure by land and sea, by the insight, the inbred sagacity, the tried and tested experience of many generations, built up a dominion which is buttressed by the two pillars of liberty and law. [Cheers.] We are not vain enough nor foolish enough to think that in the course of that long process there have not been blunders, or worse than blunders, and that today our dominion does not fall short of what in our ideals it might, and it ought, and, we believe, it is destined to be. But such as we have received it, and such as we hope to leave it, with it we are content. [Hear, hear.] We do not covet any people's territory. [Hear, hear.] We have no desire to impose our rule upon alien populations. The British Empire is enough for us. [Laughter and loud applause.] All that we wished for, all that we wish for now, is to be allowed peaceably to consolidate our own resources, to raise within the Empire the level of common opportunity, to draw closer the bonds of affection and confidence between its parts, and to make it everywhere the worthy home of the best traditions of British liberty. [Hear, hear.] Does it not follow from that that nowhere in the world is there a people who have stronger motives to avoid war and to seek and pursue peace? [Hear, hear.] Why then—I repeat the question—why then are the British people throughout the length and breadth of our Empire everywhere turning their ploughshares into swords? Why are they, the best of our able-bodied men, leaving the fields and the factories and the counting-houses for the recruiting office and the training camp? [Hear, hear.]
If, as I have said, my Lord Mayor, we have no desire to add to our Imperial burdens, either in area or in responsibility, it is equally true that in entering upon this war we had no ill-will to gratify nor any wrongs of our own to avenge. In regard to Germany in particular—[hisses]—our policy, repeatedly stated in Parliament, resolutely pursued year after year, both in London and in Berlin—our policy has been to remove one by one the outstanding causes of possible friction, and so to establish a firm basis for cordial relations in the days to come. [Hear, hear.] We have said from the first—I have said it over and over again, and so has Sir Edward Grey—we have said from the first that our friendships with certain Powers, with France—[cheers]—with Russia, and with Japan—[renewed cheers]—that our friendships with those Powers were not to be construed as implying cold feelings, and still less
