LLOYD GEORGE SPEAKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1918, Page 2

LLOYD GEORGE SPEAKS.

IX DEFENCE OF GOVERNf MENT. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received This Day at 12.30. a.m.) LONDON March -13. Hon. Lloyd George at the Free Church Conference at the City Temple replied, to criticism contained in some speeches, notably charging Government with not attaching sufficient importance to the League of Nations. The Premidi' declared tjhe League will not be obtained by calling for it. The Bolsheviks thought it could, and allowed the Army to be disorganised, with the result that they had lost the half of their own nation. There was no warmer advocate for a League of Nations than the Kaiser, but his idea was a League headed by Germans. Unless 1 the Allies war aims were realised, the League of Nations would be a sham, hut if their ideals were realised, the League would he an established fact. The Premier deprecated harrassing criticisms of* Government and asked for fair play. '

\ GRAVE WARNING. LONDON March 13. \ interest- has been excited by an ad-oddv-ss just given by Sir Crompton Rickett. Speaking to the Free Church conference, he declared that the Prime Minister needed at the present juncture. the whole nation’s undivided support. Decisions, be said, of the utmost gravity, decisions afiVcting the whole " future life of the Empire, would be taken during the week, even in the next few days. He was not sneaking of any immediate or enstronhiri damage, but of something, which must be faced. The decision between the Entente and and the enemy, he continued,- was hanging in the balanceN The solution may come more rapidly Own we Tt is noteworthy that Sir Crompton Rickett had just come from conversing with Mr Lloyd George.