MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1922, Page 5

MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

WELCOME IN MIDLANDS.

REVIEW OF HIS WORK. TASKS FOLLOWING PEACE. TO STAND AS LIBERAL. By Telegraph.—Press Asan. —Copyright. Received Oct. 22, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 21. A large crowd farewelled Mr. Lloyd George on the eve of his departure for Leeds, including ex-Ministers. Responding to calls for a speech, Mr. Lloyd George said: “I am a free man; the burden is off my shoulders, but my sword is in my hand.” Mr. Lloyd George started on a triumphal progress to Leeds, recalling the opening of Gladstone’s Midlothian campaign. A great gathering of Welshmen were among the crowd at St. Pancras station, and they shouted greetings in Welsh. The Premier travelled in a special train, his car being garlanded I with chrysanthemums. A hundred Liberals, members and candidates, accompanied the Premier and his wife. The enthusiasm of the crowd was so great that it was impossible to get the train away until Mr. Lloyd George responded to cries of “speech.” Standing at an open door of his carriage he issued a dramatic call to arms. Everything was carefully stage-managed, a welcome to the Premier being arranged at any stoppage en route. “GOING TO BATTLE.” At Bedford, Mr. Lloyd George thanked his supporters for coming in such numbers to greet one of the unemployed. (Laughter.) Referring to the fact that Bedford was Bunyan’s town, he said he was glad to find in the country that there was no end of Greathearts and Faithfuls with them. He added: “I am going to the battle.” Responding to a welcome at Kettering, he said: “The people of Britain do not easily forget those who have striven hard for them. We mean to put the interests of the nation before any party gain.” At Nottingham he said: “I and the ablest and most experienced leaders of the Conservative Party are standing for the country first. When the country is through its troubles we will have a dog fight at Leicester.” He made play with the phrase “New Carlton Club,” and said the order is party first. He added: “It is small wonder that Lord Balfour, Lord Birkenhead, Mr. Chamberlain. Sir Robert Horne, and many others, whose loyalty to the Conservative Party cannot be challenged, are all standing for country first, and decline to carry out the Carlton Club’s order.” The amazing enthusiasm reached a climax at Sheffield, where the crowd rushed the carriage, trying to shake hands.

At Leeds the train was welcomed by a Welsh choir singing “Land of Our Fathers.” Mr. Lloyd George stood bareheaded until the singing ceased. A vast crowd outside the station cheered as he drove away. Mr. Lloyd George had a great reception at Leeds, and the hall in which he spoke was unable to hold half the applicants for admission. The audience cheered and sang.

PARTY STRIFE BEGINS. Mr. Lloyd George lengthily reviewed and vigorously defended Cabinet’s achievements. He said the banner of party strife was raised at the Carlton Club. The great combination of men of a l parties and creeds which led the nation to victory in war and were gradually but surely leading it out of trouble, had ended, not because it ceased to serve the nation, but because party was not getting enough out of it. It was for the people to decide whether party or the nation came first. “I stand for the people,” he declared. “The time has come for a calm and dispassionate review of what the combination formed in 1916 has accomplished. If it has not served the nation let the nation condemn it; if it has served the people well and helped the country to achieve something, treat it fairly and well. There never was a combination that worked harder for the country during the last six years. When criticism was pouring in upon me I had no time to tell the people the real story, but I have a little more time now, as I am one of the unemployed. ’ “The war was not a bad test of statesmanship,” he continued, “and I have done a few things in peace. I took a leading part in establishing old-age pensions, health insurance, the Treaty of Versailles, an* l the League of Nations. The huge army that darkened the horizon of Europe has gone, and although we have not rid Europe of the burden of armaments, that was the first act of the great drama of peace. It was a great human charter which will be acclaimed more and more as the years pass. The next task we undertook was the re-establishment of national credit.' It would have been no use to have followed a course of borrowing that would mean less unemployed for the moment, but more unemployed three or four years hence.

BUDGET BALANCED. “The Government followed the unpopular course of balancing the Budget, making the patriot pay. When we cut down the army, the navy, and the civil service we had no end of opposition. We have done it, but we have no votes. As a result of reducing her expenditure Britain was the only country in Europe that succeeded in balancing her Budget, and the result of that course was that the credit of the country had risen. We were beginning to look the dollar in the face on equal terms: we recaptured the money market of the world: our credit was as good as ever, and. better, we were pulling through largely through statesmanship. Mr. Chamberlain and Sir Robert Horne were men not only with real capacity, but real courage. They took an unpopular course, because they knew it was right.” Mr Lloyd George said the country was pullying through the troubled postwar period with courage and character, and now that the combination was achieving it, it was smashed by the Carlton Club. “It is a crime against the nation,” he said. ‘‘There has never been in the country’s history such ruthless examination of every item of expenditure. We got a considerable reduction last year; this year we had a still more considerable reduction; and

next year we would have a still more considerable reduction. “We also had to deal with the industrial situation, which was unparrelleled in difficulty, for revolutions were sweeping the world, and they increased our difficulty. We had crisis after crisis, but now we have peace throughout the industrial world. We made most liberal unemployed provisions. If it was right from the viewpoint of humanity it was right from the viewpoint of safety. HARASSED BY CRITICISM.

“Another of the things we were able to do was something which had far more to do with the break up of the Coalition than anything—we made peace in Ireland. We secured the freedom of the -Straits, for which so many died, and we prevented war spreading to Europe, while we prevented a repetition of atrocities which have made the world shudder That we have done by the resolution with which we confronted our difficulties despite all criticism. “We have been harassed Rt every turn by criticism; this country’s hand has been weakened, and now the combination which achieved memorable things for the country is terminated. 1 am not complaining. T was concerned for the difficulties of this land—the education of the people, disarmament, the peace of Ireland, the libe"ty of Irishmen, and more, liberty for India. These things do not sound well and do not especially appeal to Belgravia, whence the opposition spread. , “The opposition did not come from the distinguished men of the party, for the most distinguished, the most experienced and the ablest of all were against it. Mr. Bonar Law himself, who, honest to the point of simplicity, hesitated. I regret he allowed his judgment to be rushed by less experienced followers and put himself in the position of a horseman not holding the reins, but holding on by the tail. I was prepared to eliminate my own personality and I told Mr. Chamberlain I would support them provided the Government was not the reactionary party. I determined on this course, because the opportunity would come for snatching party advantages. POLICY UNALTERED.

“If a reactionary Ministry receives a majority in the election I am honestly apprehensive about the results. Measures will be carried by the strength of the subversive elements, which will be disastrous to the country. I promise the country that whatever the future brings I will do nothing mean or paltry, and I will not play a part unworthy of the confidence placed in me at the greatest moment in the Empire’s history. I stand for the same sound progress.” Responding to a vote of thanks, Mr. Lloyd George said: “It is good to know I am not forgotten because of a resolution of a West (End Club. I do not believe the country will take orders at its bidding, and I cheerfully appeal to the country. Some people will go to the jungle so long as they think there is safe sport, but when the jungle gets thickest the tigers are most troublesome. They pass resolutions at the Carlton’Club.”

At a meeting of the National Liberal Council at Leeds Mr. Lloyd George was elected president and Mr. Churchill vicepresident. Sir Alfred Mond, in a message to Swansea Liberals, said Mr. Lloyd George would go to the country as a Liberal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE IRISH TREATY. London, Oct. 20. Mr. Lloyd George, in notifying Mr. Cos-grave of his resignation, said: ‘You may rest assured that no action of mine will compromise the treaty, which I trust will take final legislative effect by th? date contemplated in December.” Mr. Cosgrave replied on behalf of himself and his colleagues: “We appreciate the promptitude of your message. We share with you the hope that the treaty will bear in the fullness of time the fruits which its signatories anticipated.” The Unionist Party meets on Monday, when Mr. Bonar Law will enunciate his policy. His election as leader is regarded as certain. Lords Curzon and Derby have intimated their -willingness to serve under him, Mrs. Asquith, interviewed, said: “The defeat of the Coalition is very amusing. There is an interesting situation in connection with the Irish constitution which must be ratified before December 6, but there is no reason to believe Mr. Bonar Law will attempt to wreck the Irish settlement.” Sir James Craig, in the Ulster House of Commons, said Ulster thoroughly approved of the selection of Mr. Bonar Law, who would be an intensely popular Premier.

FOREIGN VIEWS. Paris, Oct. 20. While ail the newspapers express deep appreciation of Mr. Lloyd George’s war services, they are unanimously relieved at his departure, as they anticipate that improved Anglo-French relations will follow, whatever Government is formed in Britain. The Journal says: “We must go back to the days of Bismarck to find an international event comparable with Mr. Lloyd George’s fall. Both succumbed to pride, intoxicated by success.” The Figaro says: “France has cruelly suffered from Mr. Lloyd George’s changes and caprices, and can hardly regret his fall.’’ L’Oeuvre remarks: “It is opportune to point out that all the makers of the Versailles Treaty have now departed, and it should be fairly easy now to revise it. M. Poincare will do everything possible to facilitate a reconciliation, which will be our best guarantee against war.” The Matin declares: “Mr. Lloyd George had no principles, ethics, judgment, hatreds or affections. He only had skill, and only triumphed oratorioally. His seven years in office consisted in never-ending legerdemain. Tn wishing Mr. Lloyd George “Good-night,” the Matin concludes: “May it be a long one. May we never see you again.” Brussels, Oct. 20.

The newspaper Peuple states that Mr. Lloyd George’s disappearance ends, perhaps for ever, the dictatorship he exercised, the effects of which have been felt far beyond the frontiers of the British Empire. Berlin, Oct. 20. The Tageblatt says: “'Die British crisis is disturbing, not only for Britain, but for the whole world. For us it is deplorable, as it means new and unfavorable decisions against Germany. ' | The Vossische Zeitung attributes Mr. 1 Lloyd George’s fall to his Near East policy. The Lolcil Anzeiger. the Nationalist organ, interprets the fall as M. Poincare’s triumph. The Allgemeine Zeitung, Herr Staines’ paper, welcomes Mr. Lloyd George’s exit. The Vorwaerts, on the contrary, regrets the loss of one of the most eminent statesmen of modern times.