Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-17
THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL II, 1919
LLOYD GEORGES ADDRESS

The premier Of England occupies the anomalous po-
sition of being politician without a party. That condition
has been his in greater or less measure during his entire
career for his party affiliations have always been of the
loosest kind, and his tendency has always been to cut
loose from the company in which he was when it ap-
peared that his associates for the time being were no
longer inclined to go his way. And. political maverick
though he may be. the government of which he is the
head has the largest majority in the house of commons
that has supported any British administration in modern
times.
The address of Lloyd George the other day was char
acteristic Of the man in that it was bold in it's admissions,
frank in its statement of fact where facts were stated,
and c@onsummately skillful in its appeal to the traditional
British sense of fair play.
The government has been criticized in certain of the
influential newspapers for an alleged disposition to play
fast and loose with prediction promises, and for I'M
necessary delay in the preparation of plans for peace.
The situation in Russia had been made the subject of
scathing comment, very similar to much of the comment
that has been made on this side of the water. Whether
the premiers address is generally regarded as a fairly
complete. answer to the criticism does not appear from,
the published reports. but the summary of the address
received by cable indicates that the little Welshman has
lost none Of his fire and none of his resourcefulness.
One feature of the address which was certainly i'm
pressive, and which must have been effective, was the
Which, ia Wdue vi patience WIN q men VINO
are charged with the difficult task of bringing a just and
effective peace out Of conditions hitherto unparalleled.
These men have to deal with subjects entirely new and
strange. Their mission is not merely to patch up a peace
That could have been done long ago. Under conditions
such as have prevailed in the past this might have been
done long ago. But the business Of the men now sitting
in the peace conference is to bring out Of this confusion
such order and security that, so far as is humanely pos
sible, it will never be necessary that this work shall be
repeated. And, for the successful completion of this
work time is necessary, for new foundations must be laid
as we'll as new superstructures built. There is needed
not the bargaining spirit. but the spirit of construction
and the premier spoke with emphasis and feeling Of the
danger which was involved in anything which tended t.
create or aggravate racial and sectional animosities.
The premier's discussion of the Russian situation wa.
one which must tend to clear the atmosphere of a lo
of the fog which has couded it. There is, in his opinion
no such thing as a government of Russia. The condi
tons in that country are aptly described to a volcano
which is still in eruption, and where onlookers can fo1
the time being do nothing but rescue those who are or
the more distant and accessible slopes, and aid as. hes
they may in checking the flow of lava to the surround
ing territory.
Lloyd George desires no invasion of Russia. H,
recognizes that the country is easy to invade, but diff
cult to leave. Allied soldiers are now there as an after
math Of the struggle with Germany. sent there in par
as a part Of the legitimate military program against Ger
many, and in part as an act of good faith toward Rus
slams who at the request of the Allies had fought val
iantly in the united, cause, and whom it would have bee,
IN act of gross ingratitude to leave to their fate whe,
their assistance was no longer needed.
Much Of what the premier said has its applicatio,
in this country as we'll as in England. and for that reaso,
itis OF absorbing interest here. 1t demonstrates, anon
other things. that "immediate'' withdrawal from Russi
il one Of the many things more easily talked about tina
accomplished.