, 1922-10-15

from spreading throughout
eastern Europe"
In beginning his speech at the lunch.
con and thus raising the curtain on a
new act in h political drama which
may mark n climax in the career OF
the striking central figure. MFR. Lloyd
George referred to the Near Eastern
crisis. declaring the people OF this
country u nos believe that Their
government had ~endeavored to rush
Great Britain into war.
we have not been war but
peaae-malters.'' he said.
The premier arose amid n tense sill
ence OF expectancy on the part Of his
hearers. who were looking TO him 10
begin the fight for his political life.
A great array Of journalists eagerly
seized upon his words and rushed
them off to the four corners or the
globe.
Continuing his defense of he gov
ernment's policy regarding the Near
East. Mr.. Lloyd George said the ne.
gotiations had been conducted in a
manner unprecedented I'm this
The government. he declared. had been
Installed with misrepresentation such
as no government had ever been sub.
jected. The country would resent
this. lie declared. adding hat there
were ''queer people let loose in the
press In these days.
My task has been maze much
easier" declared the premier. .by the
speech which Mr.. Chamberlain with
clarity and luc.dlty. point and force.
delivered yesterday.
Our object in the action we took
was three fold. the freedom OF the
straits. the prevention OF the wars
spreading into Europe, and the pre-
vention OF the repetition In Constan.
unopls and Thrace OF the unutterabie |
horrors of Asia Minor.
The war OF 1919 practically began
in the Balkans. We had to act prompt
ly r~esoiutely and firmly. Since 1914
the Turks. according to official testl-
money. have slaughtered in old blood
J 300. 0 Armenians and 500. 900
ALL 81
At one point in his speech. Mr.,
Lloyd George declared: There has
been speech after speech OF intolerabIe
abuse. and I am told to bear Il like a
Christian. but there are too many peo-
pie about the world who think Il in
sacred by Turk or Pro-Turk. am
the business OF Christians to be mas
not one of hat Eort of Christians"
A littlo further on the prime MN
ister said:
IF there is to be a chainge there Is
no man who would welcome Il more
than 1. I have had a long spell and
a very hard one 1 love freedom.
There are a lot of things l want to
say"
This statement by the premier was
AFTER he had turned to home policies.
subject on which the whole empire
was awaiting his pronouncement. He
asserted there were die hards'' nhe
ultra Conservatives) on both sides.
There are some who would like TO
make me a die hard. and SOON
IT'S no use trying to bluff a first
rate fighting animal" II Mr.. Lloyd
george. referring to the Near East
It's always a mistake to threaten
unless you mean II. The Turks knew
we meant 1t and that's why we have
peace.
II an told we have departed from
the methods OF the old diplomacy.
That's very sad The old diplomacy
ended in the NEST disastrous war this
world has ever seen. The amateur
diplomacy OF 1922 has at least brought
peace.
Il am sorry TO see that the Liberals
have been pleading that It was none
OF u business to intervene between
the Turks and their victims. That
was not the old Liberal doctrine. II
that the policy we adopted
regarding Turkey was in accordo poai
with the highest interests and tradi-
tons OF his land and we have reason
to be proud it succeeded"
AT one point Mr.. Lloyd George de-
ciared dramatically, with his head
thrown back:
A long as I have a sword in my!