THE BRITISH CHANCELLOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 81, 1 May 1909, Page 3

THE BRITISH CHANCELLOR.

London, March 12. The stories so persistently circulated I to the effect that Mr. Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was corespondent in a divorce case and on the brink -of social and political disaster in consequence received what should lx their quietus in the law courts to-day. ! An action which Air. Lloyc' George hail brought against "The People," a Simday newspaper, in respect of what "The People's" own counsel, Sir Edward Carson, described as "scandalous and unfounded libels," resulted in a complete apology on the part of th e defendants. In addition it was announced that £IOOO was to bo paid to Mr. Lloyd George, who will hand it over to a. charity. The libellous statements consisted, shortly, of this:—

That Mr. Lloyd George was about to figure as a co-respondent in a divorce suit.

That it had been ascertained that there was no doubt as to his guilt. Thai, he had committed misconduct with a married lady, whose husband, had instituted proceedings in the Divorce Court.

That the case would be heard shortly in that court, and as a result there would be the necessary social degradation and ruin o'r Mr. Lloyd George. It was also stated that Mr. Lloyd George's friends were making efforts to prevent th c hearing of the case in open court, but that the husband was determined to proceed with it. These statements culminated in January Inst, iwhen an article appeared called "The Prince ' of Peace." It was stated that "after all, | the friends of Mr. Lloyd George had ' succeeded in their efforts, and that the divorce suit would now be conspicuous by its absence from lliF Cause List of the trials of the Divorce Court, and that the price Mr. Lloyd George had had to pay to secure this result was £20.000." ALL UNTRUE. With reference to each one of these statements Mr. Lloyd George's counsel and the plaintiff himself declared that I they Sveru"destitute of the least particle or truth. Thc Chancellor's pale face I flushed and he was evidently keenly moved as he solemnly and emphatically ; denied, in the witness-box, the charges imadc against him. "The paragraphs arc ' an absolute invention," he said, "every lino of them." 'Phcrc was no defence. j The proprietors of "The People" offered a full and regretful apology, admitting that the statements were without foundation, and nddinjr"th?it the paragraphs had been inserted without their knowledge. The judge said he had taken the case out of its turn in view of the face that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was' deep in the preparation of his Budget, and it nvonld be impossible for a man to tlo his duty while a matter of this kind was hanging over liiin. He thought the public were partly to 'blame Vor the kind of paragraphs complained of. So long as there were people who loved the dirty and disgusting details <if the Divorce Court, so long would there be newspapers which pandered to their passion for something evil. Tip thought Mr. Lloyd George had behaved with extreme moderation.

After the judge ceased (spoaklnpf, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Oorge, both of whom wore smiling, shook hands heartily with Mr. -Unfiis Isaacs and Sir Oorge Lewis, their eonnsel. Ou leaving tlie Law Courts the Chancellor of the Uxchequcr was warmly cheered by a large crowd of people who had assembled to wateli his departure.