LLOYD GEORGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17693, 2 August 1919, Page 13

LLOYD GEORGE

CHANCELLOR, WAR MINISTER, AND PRIME MINISTER, .

On an occasion, one day before the war, a mail in lCiie'land was tolling how ho saved a person from drowning. "I swa.m out to him," ho said "made sure tliat ho wasn't. Lloyd George, and then dragged hint abhors."

J. hat, for 10 years prior to 1911, was the r.tutudo of tho average middle-class Englishman towards tho liery little Welshman, who is at this moment, remarks ono of iiis journalistic biographers, enjoying a triumjh probably without precedent in British polities. Conservative England hated liim. and foarsd him. 110 was "the little Welsh attorney," or "tho Nonconformist village Radical"} ho, was referred to, even in the dignified House of Lords, in harsh, bitter, and contemptuous terms. But ho could bo no it her eliminated by political attacks nor suppressed by furious abuse. He remained tho n.ost striking figure in British politics, and few escaped his sting. Ho was not always respected, but ho was never ignored. He was born 56 years ago, tho son of people lia( (humble circumstances. Two years later his father, died, and ho and his mother, left penniless, wero taken into the oaro of ' his mother's brother, Richard Lloyd, a village 'shoemaker. The shoemaker was religious, a somewhat narrow Nonconformist. Tho natural ability of David Lloyd George demanded education, and the shoemaker, grimly following the path of duty as ho saw it marked, out of his slender means educated his nephew, and enabled him to qualify as a solicitor. Richard Lloyd died recently. The old Welsh Nonconformist lived to see the boy, whom, ho had educated as a matter of simple duty, become Prime Minister of Britain at a time when Britain was crying anxiously for the services of her ablest sons.' What a pity that ho did not live a little longer, to see all England render homage to the modest little man who guided the Empiro through tho greatest international storm in history.

As a young solicitor Lloyd Georgo practised successfully in a village in Wales. Even before that he began to display a curious talent for making people writhe. He was only 18 when ho wrote violent character sketches of prominent politicians for the North Wales Express, which arc still remembered. About the same time he paid a first- visit to London, and criticised everything with quaint, youthful confidence. The following extract from his diary of 1881 is most interesting: — "Went to Houses of Parliament. "Very much disappointed with them. Great buildings outside, but inside they are cramped, small, and suffocating, especially the House of Commons. I will not say but that I eyed the assembly in a spirit similar to that in 'which William the Conqueror eyed England on his visit to Edward tho Confessor as the region of his future domain. Oh, vanity!" That -was in 1881. If the youth could only have visualised 1918 ! Mr Lloyd Georgo was 27 years of age before, in 1890, lie stood for Parliament, and was elected for Carnarvon Boroughs by the narrow majority of 18. He has been in Parliament ever since. It is characteristic of him that no splash or flurry announced his arrival in the political arena. For some years ho was practically not heard of.

Before tho Boer war had been long 1 under way the name of Lloyd George was known to every man and woman throughout tho Empire. He' was not famous —he was notorious. Ho savagely attacked the motives which took Britain into tlio war, and the British people as savagely attacked him. Tho little Welshman has never lacked courage, and ho is always a lighter. Tho wliolo country shrieked " pro-Boer " at him, his life was actually in danger, but he defied everyone, and hit bafik vigorously. It is not a very dignified chapter of his life, this, but it shows him as a man of uncompromising honesty of purpose and indomitable spirit, who would follow the path he believed to be right regardless of consequences.

Although he held such unpopular views, it was known that this invaluable debatetr and worker could not, bo kept out of any future liberal Cabinet. So, when Sir Ilenry Campbell Bannerman formed his Cabinet in 1905, Lloyd George bwjame President of the Board of Trade. In this capacity ho was a complete success. He put vitality and fire into a position that had seldom if ever been noted for driving power, and the Board of Trade, under his direction, began to exert influence and power in the interests of the nation. This, the attainment of Cabinet rank, in a sense, completes the first stage of tho career of the nephew of tho humble Welsh shoemaker. Lloyd George became known as a groat administrator and a fine political strategist. lie was, however, never loved by the well-to-do classes. His extreme radicalism alarmed them. He worked constantly for tho betterment of the industrial masses, realising clearly that there lay England's most dangerous weakness, and lie showed no respect for wealth and birth. Hi© aristocracy detested him. When Camppell Bannerman died, and Mr Asquith became' Prime Minister, Mr Lloyd George took office as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Almost immediately ho produced the famous Budgot and the Veto Bill, which causcd a tremendous Uproar, but which unquestionably saved the Liberal Government. His proposals for a system of compulsory insurance against unemployment, sickness, arid invalidity aroused tremendous opposition, and all employing classes called down the wrath of the gods upon his head. But the Cabinet went on with the schema. The echoes of the fury which the little Welshman had stirred up against himself iti tho years following on 1908 wero still reverberating dully when the great war broke out, and Lloyd George entered upon the second and most glorious stag<3 of his wonderful career. He was then Chancellor of tho Exchequer. Britain, as the financial and commercial centre of a world plunged into a war that threatened to destroy the whole economic system, was trembling on tho verge of chaos. If her financial structure collapsed, most of the world would be involved in ruin with her. Lloyd George used the power of tho Government boldly, firmly, and ruthlessly. A moratorium was declared, and other drastic stops taken. Finance and commerce, tottering on the brink of disaster, were propped up, given time to readjust themselves to new conditions, and gradually recovered. In 1915 it was seen that the future coursc of the war depended oir munitions. A huge organisation had to be created, embracing every industry, employing millions of operatives, stretching- its tentacles into remote lands after essential raw materials. Who was to undertake this colossal task? From every quarter the call for Lloyd George arose, strong end insistent. 'The littlo Welshman became Minister for Munitions. In a,few weeks great munition works sprang up ajl over England and Scotland, existing industries were bent to new purocses, and shipping, railways, labour, and supplies of raw material were controlled and co-ordi-naied so as to give in the shortest timtf the desired result—namely, the supply of munitions in over-increasing quantities to our new armies.

In Juno, 1916, tho whole English-speaking ■world roeoived a paralysing shock ip tho death of Lord Kitchener, Minister for War. Who was to bocoino Britain's military director? Tho question was asked hooelcssly— but the man was waiting, David Lloyd Georgia handed over the Ministry of Munitions, already running smoothly, and became Minister for War. Again he displayed that wonderful capacity for taking control of a strange machine that lias made him an administrative wizard. One can imagines no more difficult i task for a civilian and a pacifist—for Lloyd George has always loathed war, and gloried in the name of pacifist—than that of directing the enormous war organisation of Great Britain. Ho carried out the difficult and dangerous task with complete success. His personality, in the homo of convention and red tape, was like a fresh wind. Ho made changes, selected his staff with keenness and insight, aroused little hostility, and put new life into tho wholo department.

The war went badly. Russia collapsed, the submarine campaign threatened to cripple the Allies, it looked like a drawn battle on tho west front. The country lost confidence in the Asquith Government,/) clamour arose against it. and it had to go. Who was to lead Britain from this desperate situation to victory? Was it possible to find such a man? The. voico of the nation. and particularly of the wealthy and aristocratic classes, formerly his bitter enemies, was unanimous arid unmistakeable—"Send for Lloyd George." So ho came into tins highest pest in the gift of the Umpire—the little Welsh solicitor, the nephew of the village, shoemaker, already proved to be the nation's greatest administrator and. organiser, He led the British people through some black and terrible days, but be never faltered and never lost heart ITis voire was ftlwavs a clarion try to more work, further sacrifice, more staunch endeavour, so that victory might be certain. Unlike most war leaders, he backed his optimism with performance. Two thincrß among a thousand which he did. brought victory to us unexpectedly in 1918. IT P secured! in the face of bUtor onoositinn. and shameless intrisrue. the unified command, nnd he organised. almost at a week's notice, an enormous jncreas? in tile feap-SBDrfcatian pf

American troops to Franco. Without theflo performances, tho Allied troops "woukl not | hiivo soen tho .Riiino mi til tho summer | of 1919.

What did Lloyd George do to bring complete victory .to Groat Britain ? His official positions during tho wai- period spoalc for themselves—Chancellor of Exchequer, Minister for Munitions, Secretary of State for War, Prime Minister. But lie has done more than that. He has expressed, in his own person, tho characteristic which made tho British people dominant, in this war— namely, a passionato love of liberty and justioc, unbreakable tenacity of purpose, an apparently limitless capacity for organisation, and re-organisation to meet now conditions. courage in and an inextinguishable faith in the ultimate triumph' of right. Is it any wonder that Britain does homage to the little Welshman?