“JEST OF NATIONS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1938, Page 8

“JEST OF NATIONS”

MR LLOYD GEORGE ON BRITISH POLICY ATTACK ON THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. SHARP REJOINDER MADE BY “THE' TIMES.” (Recd This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. “It is a sad thing for an old fellow in his seventy-sixth year to see the the British flag becoming the jest of nations,” said the Rt Hon D. Lloyd George in a speech at Stafford. He added: “The National Government has crawled and crumpled before the dictators who are terrorising Europe. We have sent twittering little protests, like a frightened bird, to Spain, but none to Italy and Germany. These protests are becoming the joke of the world.” “The Times,” commenting on the speech, says it is almost sad to see how much nonsense a brilliant politician can pack into a single oration. People abroad may ascribe more importance to him than do people at Home, who realise the great difference between the war leader and the disgruntled critic of today.

“The Times” points out that Mr Lloyd George's assertions that Italy and Germany were ready to abolish bombers and submarines in the past, but that Britain was the stumbling block, are grossly misleading. On the contrary, the British disarmament plan was most comprehensive. The newspaper adds: “The leaders of certain States are exploiting the wholesome reluctance of most countries to engage in war, but they may be aggressive once too often.”