The New York herald., 1921-07-15
LLOYD GEORGE sees
WORLD DPEACE AHEAD
Expects Harding's Conference
to Cut Armaments of Nations
to InnOcuOus Limits.
SILENT ON COMING HERE
Takes Up Gauntlet With
Northcliffe Press at Dinner
to Coalition Whip McCurdy.

Special Gable to THE New YORK HERALD
Copyright, 1921, bv THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Hernld Bureau.
London. July IL.
Premier Lloyd George tonight took
up the gauntlet thrown down by the
Northc1iffe press upon the issue Of the
Washington conference to consider
disarmament and the Pacific problems.
He took it up in speaking at a dinner
in honor of the chief Coalition whip.
G. A. McCurdy-and a dinner to the
chief whip, according to political ira
dition, is never given until the dis
solution of Parliament and a general
election are not far Off.
On this occasion, as in the House
of Commons earlier in the day, Mr..
Lloyd George avoided saying whether
he intended personally to go to WASH
ington. He hailed President Harding's
invitation in the most cordial terms
possible. While he said that he had
not intended to reply to certain at
tacks made on him, it was learned
to-day that not only the Foreign Dr.
Ace but all Government departments
had received intimation to afford no
further news facilities to representa-
tives of Lord Northcliffe's newspapers
The Premier said:
"The British Government accepts
President Harding's invitation not only
with alacrity but with Joy and delight.
because IL comes from the President OF
the United States and because personally
am sincerely hopeful that II will result
in a pact OF peace that will make the
Pacific a really pacific ocean. also
trust that 1t will lead to useful discus
sion of the problem of disarmament.
upon which SO much depends for the
future OF our race, because 1t matters
not what treaties are signed, what pacts
are entered into between nations. what
understandings they may establish, II
makes no difference what leagues or as
sociations they may found, II nations
arm against each other for war, war will
ensue in the end
Therefore no treaty Is of value unless
Il leads 70 an understanding among ma
tions that they will not utilize their re-
sources, their wealth and their strength
for the purpose of developing the mech
anism OF human slaughter among them
selves. am very hopeful that when
that conference meets 1t will lead to
something beyond mere resolutions In
favor of disarmament and will lead
to an understanding and real arrange
ment involving the keeping OF those
armanents within innocuous limits"
These ars the tasks upon which I am
engaged he added, "and while / am
thus occupied can you tell me why
liberalism should attack me2'
There has been n remarkable change
I'm the last few weeks Mr.. Lloyd
George continued. THE human tenn
pests seem to be subsding, and there Is
a spirit of Cancellation. i can see It In
the Industrial world. (Cheers.) There
Is a better outlook for the employer
and for the workman. and that Is n
fundamental fact. I do not intend to
reply to the attacks made upon me In
the acrimonious spirit in which they
we're made. / am the head of the Gov
ernment and ! am responsible to the
House of Commons and to the nation
and to the Empire. and appeal to the
men OF all parties. whatever their per-
sonal feelings. to drop trivialities and
assist me to secure the peace of the
world