PREMIER'S FRENCH SPEECH

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1917, Page 5

PREMIER'S FRENCH SPEECH

SEVERELY CRITICISED. London, Nov. 14. The Daily News describes Mr. Lloyd George's speech as the most lamentable blow struck during the war. and worth many victories to the enemy. If it be 11 crime to encourage the enemv and depress ourselves this is a crime'without parallel. The Nows proceeds: "We charge Mr. Lloyd Gcorse with levity in choosing a foreign luncheon, instead of the House of Commons, for a. speech indicting his own nation. We have strong reasons for believing that his colleagues, even the members of the War Cabinet, were not consulted, and share the astonishment and indignation with' which the press and public have received the speech, which is a cruel, false and mischievous slander on Britain, and invites our Allies to distrust, and condemn us. It also belittles our own sacrifices."

The News quotes Mr. Lloyd George as saying: '"When we advance a kilometre and snatch a shattered village out of the enemy's cruel grip we show unfeigned joy." That was a travesty on the battle of the Somme, which savdd France. It was Britain's heroic effort that relieved Verdun.

"Yet Mr. Lloyd George speaks thus to support his case that he has been thwarted, that ho was right and others wrong. Who had greater responsibility for the conduct of the war than Mr. Lloyd George? Yet he now throws accusations a± his colleagues." "The creation of the War Council has a sinister aim. If British armies are surrendered to the decisions of General .Cadorna and his colleagues, then Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson havo been virtually deposed. Mr. Lloyd George has made himself political dictator at home and now, having the right to sit on the War Ccumcii, poses to make himself military dictator also."