Mr Lloyd George.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 4, 5 January 1914, Page 5

Mr Lloyd George.

RAISES HORNETS' NEST.

OVER ARMAMENTS QUESTION

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [Untied Press Association. I London, January 3.

Unionist newspapers are making • capital out, of Mr Lloyd George's interview with a friend, winch was reported joy cue Daily Chronicle (Liberal) by jpermission. They declare that Air ■ Lloyd George has assumed the leaderjship oi the Radicals, who are making la Head set against Mr Churchill's naval policy. | The question whether Mr Churchill's followers will secede from the Unionists and form a new party is widely ! discussed. '. Tne Standard asks if Mr Lloyd 'George is deliberately precipitating a !break-up of the Cabinet over the armaments question, preferring this to a icollapse later in consequence ot :he Cabinet's failure regarding tiie Irish question.

The Daily Telegraph asks what is Mr j Lloyd George's goal, what situation he is engineering, whether lie is working with or against Mr Churchill, and whether Mr Asquith. regards the new development -with sympathy or external approval. He has hitherto been true to Liberal Imperialism, but he must know that the triumph of Brunuerism means a reeling blow to national security. Mr Lloyd George's declaration sows distrust broadcast where there was confidence before.

THE CHANCELLOR ON HOLIDAY.

London, January 4. Mr Lloyd George is holiday-making at Algiers. Mr L. G. Chiozza Money, Liberal member for Northamptonshire East, in a letter to the press, regrets that Sir John Brunner has advised the adoption of a course which, if followed for a few years, will give Germany the command of the sea.

The Observer questions whether Mr Lloyd George's utterances mean all that his excited friends imagine. The Chancellor's statement, when examined, is a guarded one, despite its extreme imprudence. It appears to be a ruse to keep the forces of Radicalism and Labor together in view of the next elections. The real interest in bis declarations lies in the fact that if Mr Lloyd George is to definitely lead a Rldieal-Soeialist combination with a policy of destructive to the sea power of the Empire, there will be need of a new national party to combat the peril.

OPINION IN FRANCE

STATEMENT NOT WELL RECEIVED.

PariSj January 3

Mr Lloyd .George's statements have caused consternation in France. Tlie newspapers resent\\vhat they describe as liis complaisant reference to Germany's concentrating Jier energy on her army instead of on her navy, as disconcerting to the friends of the Entente Cordiale.

The newspaper lie Temps emphasises 'that France's enormous expenditure is jthe result of Germany's change of policy. It adds that if France is ultiImately compelled to choose between the army and navy—the thing that Mr L'oyd George apparently considers inevitable for all nations of the Continent—a Mediterranean situation will be thereby created that will be anything but satisfacory to England. HER UNEXPECTED OUTLAYS. Times— Svdvky Sun Special Cables. (Received 8 a.m.) Paris, January 4. French papers bluntly state that France does not share Mr Lloyd George's satisfaction, because Germany, —in increasing her army expenditure, has since forced wholly unexpected outlays upon the Republic.

ANGLO-CERMAN RELATIONS.

German papers ridicule disarmament. A correspondent states that there is no real objection in Germany to any British naval policy that Britain may adopt. German naval expansion is equally provoked by utterances suggestjitig that England is wavering, and By speeches explaining that England is compelled to increase her defences by Gorman aggressiveness.

"NOT BAD."

Berlin, January 3. The Nachrichten says that it is positively ridiculous to talk of infinitely more friendly relations between England ami Germany. At present the relationship of England and Germany is not had. That is all that, can be said.