SPEECH BY LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1922, Page 3

SPEECH BY LLOYD GEORGE.

ON EUROPEAN RECONCILIATION

ACSTUAIiIAN AND N.Z. CAIJf<K-association.

LONDON, Jan. 7. . Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Cannes, said:—lt is always a very invidious task for any statesman of any Allied country which has suffered much at Germany’s hands, to put in a word for moderation and restraint when it is proposed to impose penalties on Germany for the non-fulfilment of her obligations. “People say: ‘You are sacrificing Britain to Germany, France to Germany, or Belgium to Germany.’ Nevertheless, we ought to have the courage to look facts in the face. Germany must pay to the utmost of her capacity. Justice demands it. You must consider, when recovering damages, to what extent judgment and execution can be made effective. You may. drive things so far that you get nothing out of your verdict. When Britain, -through her representatives, puts in a plea for not rushing Germany into anarchy or bankruptcy, we are not doing that in the interests of Germany, but in the interests of the world. Yoil should not force Germany into the same conditions as those into which Russia was forced, it should, be with this' difference, that you would have anarchy among a much more efficient people. You will have extreme doctrines under the leadership of a very powerful race. “That is why Britain, in spite of misrepresentation at Home and abroad, has advocated, not commiseration, not consideration for Germany, but ordinary common prudence.” “It is clear that the reparations will not be recovered until there is an improvement in the general conditions in Europe. The mere fact that Germany has got great internal wealth in lands, forests, railways, and factories is not conclusive evidence of her capacity to pay large sums outside her frontiers. Her capacity to pay permanent charges outside must depend upon the extent of her foreign trade. So the general, condition of Europe ,Ims a direct bearing on the reparation. Germany’s pre-war trade was largely with the oountries on her eastern and southern frontiers. These countries have collapsed industrially and commercially. . They contributed to the general wealth of the world, which circulates through the veins of commerce. The fact that they have ceased to make that contribution weakens and attenuates the industrial blood of the commercial countries of the world. It is vital for the general well being of the world that an effort should be made to restore these countries. Unless the Allied countries undtrtake this task I don’t know who will.” ‘ “When you began to talk about the restoration of Russia, Hungary and other countries, you encounter a very natural prejudice existing in every civilised breast against the Bolshevik. There is a much greater danger from Bolsheviks if we fail in the task ot reconstruction, than from the propaganda which Bolsheviks undertake. You have got to deal with the Government whose methods you do not approve. If we insist, before slinking hands with the Governments of the north, south, east, and west, upon seeing their hands clean, I don’t know how much business will he done in the world. I have heard of agreements made in Paris with the murderers ol the Americans.’ “I remember the representatives ot Turkey admitting that millions of Armenian Christians had been slaughtered, ravaged, outraged, and tortured. Yet I know of Governments that had not hesitated to make agreements with the people who took a leading part in the direction of those outrages and murders. I have seen the representatives of Governments of this kind at Paris and at London. We all met them and discussed things with them, lrecause we had to make peace in the world. You can sav: ‘Every Government that is guilty of anything that is an outrage upon civilisation, we m strike off the list.’ There is something to be said for that sort of exalted attitude; but there is'nothing to be said for greeting one assasin on your right, and refusing to greet an -assassin on your left when he °ff eis hand. There is no advantage if you shake hands with infamy in the East and refuse to do it with infamy in the North.

german REPARATIONS. ! (Received This Dav at 9.40 a.m.) CANNES, Jan 8. It is reported that Germany has been granted a delay for payment of 1922 reparations. Britain forgoes her share of January and February payments amounting to twenty-five millions. CANNES CONFERENCE. GENEROUS BRITISH OFFER. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6 At Cannes, the experts will submit a report to the Reparations Coiineil to-night. It is believed to be decided that if the moratorium should not exceed a year, a proposal will be discussed, whereby Britain will remit France’s indebtedness to her, on condition France remitted a similar amount off German 'payments. At the morning session it was stated Britain was ready to forego her twentytwo per cent share of instalments due, in favour of France, Belgium and Italy. A prominent French Minister after quitting the meeting, remarked that England’s great sacrifices forced everyone to pause and reflect. •