WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

THE UNITED FRONT 523
will only be because the free nations exhibit greater moral unity
and greater tenacity in the last desperate days than the servants
of autocratic power. The preservation of that moral unity and
tenacity will be our principal task during the forthcoming winter,
and I believe that it depends more and more upon the British
Commonwealth and the United States. This does not mean, of
course, that our Allies are not fighting as vigorously and as
valiantly as ever. It rather means that for one reason or another
they have mobilised their national resources to the utmost point
of which they are capable without having overthrown the enemy,
and that consciously or unconsciously they rely upon the British
and the Americans to supply that additional effort which is necessary
in order to make certain of a just, liberal and lasting peace.
As you may be aware, the appearance of the vanguard of the
American Army has produced a tremendous effect, especially in
France. I would ask you to consider, therefore, whether it is not
of the utmost importance that the purpose and ideals as well as
the wisdom of America should be manifested in the Council
Chamber as well as the battlefield, if we are to preserve unshaken
during this difficult winter season the resolution of the Allies to
go on with the War until Prussian military despotism over Germany
and her allies is broken, by revolution from within or defeat
from without. I recognise, of course, that there are grave difficulties
in the way, but I feel that I ought to put in front of you
the immense importance to the success of our cause which I
believe attaches to the manifestation at the Conferences of the
Allies of the determination of America to prosecute the War with
her whole strength, and of her confidence in ultimate victory.
"In conclusion may I say how much we all here have appreciated
the speeches you have made about the War. If you will
permit me to say so, I believe that your statements have been
not the least important of the contributions which America is
making to the cause of human freedom. They have not only been
a profound and masterly exposition of the Allied case. They have
recalled to many the ideals with which they entered upon the
War, and which it is easy to forget amid the horrors of the battlefield
and the overtime and fatigue in the munition shops. They