THE DELUGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1949, 5 January 1914, Page 5

THE DELUGE.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE SHARPLY CRITICISED.

FOR HIS ARMAMENT SPEECH

A CABINET-BREAKER,

By Telesraph-Prcss Asnociation-Copyrisht

(Roc. January 4, 5.5 p.m.)

London, January 3. Tho Unionist newspapers are making capital out of Mr.'Lloyd-George's recent interview—a report of a conversation between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and a friend, published under permission in tho ''Daily Telegraph." They declaro that he. lias assumed the leadership of tho Radicals, who have mado a dead set at Mr. Churchill's naval policy. The question whether Mr. Churchill will scccdo to tho Unionists, or form a new party, is widely discussed.

_ Tho "Standard" asks if Mr. LloydGcorgo is deliberately precipitating a break-up of tho Cabinet over tho armaments question, preferring this to a collapse in tho welter of failuro over Ireland.

Tho "Daily Telegraph" asks what Mr. Lloyd-George's goal is. "What situation is ho engineering ? Whether is he working with or against Mr. Churchill? Whether Mr. Asquith regards this new development with sympathy, if with external approval, ilo has hitherto been true to Liberal Imperialism, but he knows that tho triumph of "Brunnorjsm" means a reeling blow to our national security. Mr. Lloyd-George's declaration sows ■ distrust broadcast ivhero confidence rcsto:! before.

Ouo hundred members of the House of Commons have united to oppose any increase in tho Navy Estimates.

Mr. Chiozza Money, M.P. (Libera!), in a letter to the Press regrets that Sir John Brunner (of the National Liberal Federation) is advising a coutso on the armament, question which, if followed, would in a. few years givo Germany the, command of tho sea.

The "Observer" questions, whether Mr. Lloyd-George's utterances mean all that his more excited friends imagined. The Chancellor's statement, _ when examined, is guarded, despite its extreme imprudence, and appears to be- a ruso to keep tho forces of Radicalism and Labour together in view of the next elections. "The real interest in the declarations, says tho "Observer," lies in tho fant that if Mr. Lloyd-Georgo is to definitely lead n Radical-Socialim combination with a policy destructive to tho sea-power of the Empire, there would need to bo created a new national party to combat tho peril. Mr. Lloyd-Gcorgc is at present on holiday in Algiers. BOS-lln, January 3. The "Ncuosten Nacbrichten" remarks that it is "positively ridiculous to talk infinitely about friendlier relations. The present relationship between England and Gonnany is not had —that is all that can bo said of it." Baris, January 3. . "Le Temps" emphasises the point that Franco's enormous expenditure on armaments is tho result of Germany's change of policy, and adds that "if Franco be ultimately compelled to choose between the army and the navy —a thing that Mr. Lloyd-Georgo ap-' parently considers incvitablo for all nations on tho Continent and along tho Mediterranean —a situation will thereby be created which will bo anything but satisfactory to England." Mr. Lloyd-George's statements with regard to tho reduction of armaments have caused consternation. Tho newspapers resent what they describe as "a complacent reference" to Germany concentrating her attention upon her army instead of her navy as disconcerting to friends of tho Entente.