The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1916. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1916. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH.

The more closely the speech made by the British iPremier is studied, the surer becomes the conviction that his grip on the whole question of the war, and the important matters arising in connection therewith, is exceptionally firm and thorough. We miss the cold logic and polished phrases of Mr. Asquith, but that only serves to cast a strong light on the intense, practical and virile r.f.turc of the Premier's comprehensive pi onouncement. There was scarcely a subject connected either closely or rc-< I'iotely with the conduct of : the war that did not come under review, but naturally the imperative need for organisation and united action was the dominant note. On the question of Germany's peace move, Mr. Lloyd George was commendably definite and scathingly severe. He held up tin? Teutonic fetish of arrogant and tyrannical militarism in such a way that al! might behold its liideousnnss, an.l estimate the gravity of its menace. Having done this good service, the British Premier stripped the fetish of its mock trapping of defence, and laid hare it ghastly panoply of frightfulncss', atrocity, and barbaric cruelty—the tnu Hun in his natural element, "swashbuckling through the streets of Europe, to the disturbance of all harmless and peaceful citizens." It is not, said Mr. Lloyd George, the first time we havo fought the great military despotism overshadowing Europe, and it will no*: bo the first time we havo helped to overthrow military despotism. The eunr.jng and mendacious craft oi the Geriran chancellor and the Kaiser did not escape drastic comment, and he aptly called to mind the device of one of the gteatest of these despots who, when he r-ad a purpose to serve—such as gaining time to assimilate his conquests or reorganise his forces for fresh conquests, appeared in the guise of an Angel of Peace to appeal in the name of humanity for a cessation of bloodshed, whereat he professed himself horrified, but for which he himself was mainly responsible. Truly history repeats itself. With that bitter lesson in rememiranee it is not surprising that there is an aversion to a further experienc. of r similar kind to-day. Germany cannot bo trusted. Her word and her bond are alike valueless, and her motives are only too well known. When Mr. Lloyd Gccrge said that the Allies entered the war to defend Europe against aggression and Prussian jiilitary domination, and having begun, we must insist that the only end'is a most complete and effective guarantee against the possibility of that caste ever again disturbing the peace of Europe, he defined exactly not only the Allies objects, but their unalterable de : termination, and therein is the reply of

the Allies. Speaking of the events of the war, the Premier's note of optimism as regards the position was quite justified, as was his tribute to the marvellous achievement of Britain's task in nosing- the new army, which had faced the best-equipped and best-traine'd armies of the world and beaten them by incredible valor and the grim determination to win the war. No tribute could be too generous for the heroes of the Soinme. The reference to the one dark cioud —the Roumanian blunder—was inevitable, and it is cheering to learn that ihe salutary'lesson concerning the obvious defects of the Allies' organisation ilia 1 ,.' be the means of preventing further misfortunes, and may act as an incentive to fresh efforts. On the need for unity 1,1 r Lloyd George was most emphatic, and his remarks on this subject will be c-iHiorscd by all who intelligently study the conduct of the war. The policy of •), common front is the one way in which to secure the desired result. Already I there is unity of aim, but unity of action has been greatly lacking. With bis remarks on the shipping problem there should be general accord, and it can only be regretted that the nationalisation of shipping as well as the commandeering of supplies was not one of the first measures adopted on the outbreak of war. The Premier's sympathetic reference to Ireland and his manifest .desire to remove all differences was but the continuation of the praiseworthy efforts he, has already made in that direction, and he may be relied upon to do nil in his power to reconcile England and Ireland. Mr. Lloyd George's reference to the splendid voluntary services of the Dominions was no idle compliment, but a genuine and earnest acknowledgment not only of the part the Dominions have played in a war as to which they were not consulted, but also of the claim of the Dominion to take part in consultations concerning the conduct of the war—a claim that is admitted by all the progressive statesmen of the Motherland. The outcome of 'this recognition is a proposal to summon an Imperial Conference ilt an early date to take counsel together as to what is best to be done to achieve a speedy and complete triumph. Taking the speech as a whole the British Premier may be said to have fully justified his high position and reputation, and Germany cannot lail k be impressed with the fact that her days of scheming and intrigue are numbered, for Britain has a man of action at the helm, whose mission is to carry on the war to a triumphant .issue.