Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-19
Blames D. s. for Delay.

| AuChSo, dho IL al OluSE COUNTRIES a4SO
were ready economy would result. II
the nations increased their arma-
league of nations would be a mere
sham and q scrap of paper.
Discusses Economic Situation.
The premier dealt at length on the
economic situation. The war. he said.
cost Great Britain f40, ,000,0 900. and
trade balance of 100000. 900. The ma
tional debt. he pointed out. had grown
from fs41.0oo.o0o to 1850, oeo. 900. :,
We cannot prosper" said Mr.. Lloyd
out recovering and maintaining our
international trade. We must bring
up the trade balance. adding to our
exports and lessening our imports.
In every direction we are
We are consuming more and we are
producing less. These are facts. 1t
cannot last"
The premier declared that. Great
nomie mstters unt there esm. eeo
increase In production. There 10 NO
other Alternative" he exclaimed, Eek
cept quitting the country for which
we fought for four years;
The world 10 suffering from shell
shock on big scale, but all Of this
will pass away"
Favors Reducing Working Hours.
One of the arguments in favor of
reducing the number OF working
hours. the premier said, was that the
reduction in time would notA involve
. reduction in output.
Labor has made tremendous gains
during the last two or three years.
the premier added. but he said these
could not be maintained IL productions
did not increase.
During the session Of the house of
commons today there was introduced
bill that represented an agreement
between employers and employees. The
bill calls for forty eight-hour week
and what are considered living wages
The premier said he thought there
was evidence OF intentional slowing
down Of production, and that 1t is nee
essary for not only the workmen, but
the managers and the foremsn, to put
their shoulders to the task Of In
creasing production. He said it was
a dangerous and fatal fallacy that
the less men worked the more work
there would be for others; and that
1t Is highly important for those hav-
ing influence with the workers to do
their utmost to explode this fallacy.
Dealing with coal. Mr.. Lloyd George
said the government accepted the pol
icy Of state purchase of mineral
rights. on which all the reports of
the coal commission were unanimous.
but that the government would be
unable to give its assent to accept
ance OF the principles Of the Sankey
report.
Summing up, the premier said:
we saw the country imperiled by
underproduction and proposed to deal
to labor; by dealing with the ques-
ton of extended hours and a mini
mum wage and giving workers a voice
In control and q share in the pros
perity Of the industry"
George said: 1--WE must forget pre-war
conditions and deal with actualities''
He declared that he regarded the adj
verse American exchange rate as in
itself protection against the importa-
ton OF manufactured goods. TO deal
fluctuations In exchange. the premier
said the board Of trade would be equip
ped with emergency power to check
sudden and undue importations of
goods at prices below the cost Of pro-
the collapse Of exchange.
Import Restrictions to Be Removed
decided. as an interim policy. that i'm
port restrictions should be removed
September /.
Another government proposal. the
premier continued. was to shield un-
stable industries, namely, industries es.
sential to the nation. such as dyestuffs
and optical glass and the like, which
were unable to maintain themselves on
an ADEQUATE level Of production. 1t was
proposed. he said. that the board of
trade should be empowered to prohibit
imports. except by license Of such goods.
and to prevent excessive imports where
the import prices were considerably
lower than the home prices.
Dealing with finance. Mr.. Lloyd
George asserted that it would be impos-
sible to reduce the army to a peace
basis until peace was ratified
The delay in arranging peace with
Turkey. said the premier. was be-
cause Great Britain awaited the de-
cision Of the United States. Great
Britain wanted to know whether the
Cnlted states was prepared to take
her share In guaranteeing protection
for peoples who. If not protected.
would be subject to terrorism, plum
der and massacre. AS soon as the
American answer came, the premier
said. Great Britain would have to ad-
just its settlement to Americas an
swer. Meanwhile Great Britain had
| occupied Turkish territory.
In q preoration Mr.. Lloyd George
ment for the government. 1t had
had to deal with tremendous issues
| where mistakes and errors in judg-
i ment were inevitable and judgment
on 1t should err on the side Of gen.
erosity. 1t needed good will If at
crisis like the present condolences was
to be restored among all sections of
| the people to enable the nation to
cope with dimcult problema
The government has done Its best