New-York tribune., 1922-10-15
They VIII See Fair Play
He Says After Fiery De-
fence Of Turk Policy Be-
fore Manchester Club
Action Prevented
War, He Asserts
Prime Minister RidicuIes
Critics With Old vigor;
Silent ON Election Plans
BY Arthur s. Draper

copyright. 1922. New York Tribune Inc.
MANCHESTER, England, Oct. H.
II cast myself upon the people; the
people will see fair play" Premier
Lloyd George declared this afternoon
in his address before the Reform Club
here, an address awaited by all
Britain as his battle cry in the forth
coming general elecsson.
IF there is to be a change, no man
will welcome it more than l." the
Premier continued. 81 never sought to
win or retain the premiership" Con-
trary to expectations, he did nos an.
nounce definite date for the electior,
nor did he offer to resign. His mans
ner throughout was openly aggressive
and he showed that he had lost none of
his skill in oratorical appeal and verbal
attack. He received a resounding well
come and his whole speech was punctu-
ated by sharp applause.
Precise on Near East Policy
In striking contrast to his utterances
on the political situation, which were
general rather than specific, the Pre-
mier was emphatic and precise in de-
Tending his conduct in the Near East
crisis, and the denunciation Of his
critics was rhetorical climax.
Whether appealing to the memory of
Gladstone by passionately declaring
As long as have my sword in hand,
and God gives me strength to use it, I
will do So" or charging France with
broken faith over the withdrawal of
French troops from Chanak, or sardon-
ically depicting the troubles in store
for the next government, Lloyd George
continually employed flashes of fiery
rhetoric such as he had not used since
his famous Lime House speeches. The
club dining room was packed with
sympathetic audience that never failed
to rise to point made by the speaker.
Omitting all reference to the charges
that the governments postwar policy
had been consistently pro-Greek, tho
Premier cited Lieutenant General Sir
Charles Harrington and General Mau-
rice to the effect that d display of
military force at the Dardanelles was
necessary, and then said:
Three Objects In Turk Crisis
sour objects in the action we took
were three: First, to secure freedom
of the Straits for the commerce Of all
nations; second, to prevent the war
from spreading into Europe; third, to
prevent repetition in Constantinople
and Thrace of the horrors which had
been enacted IN Asia Minor during the
last six years."
Emphasizing the Importance of
free passage of the Dardanelles for the
worlds commerce in time of peace and
recalling the losses of the Allies in
the rGallipoIi campaigns Lloyd George
said dramatically:
AS to spreading the war into Eu-
rope, you have only to think what
would have happened if the Turk,
flushed with victory and no army to
resist him, had crossed the Bosporus.
passing into Constantinople and occup-
ing eastern Thrace. Do you think he
would have stopped at eastern Thrace?
Do you think he would have camped
at the Martha? Who was to stop him?
lie would have marched into western
Thrace, probably into Salonica.
"Do you know what that would mean
-war!n
Says Turks Massacred Million
When the applause had died away
the Premier Continued. He explained
that the Cabinet had received warning
from General Harrington that there
were 10000 armed Turks in CONSTANT
nople who were only waiting the word
to start massacres. He refused to dis
cuss the responsibility for the Smyrna
horror, but he remarked significantly:
"It is enough for me that official testi-
mony shows that since 1914 the Turks
have slaughtered in cold blood 500 600
Armenians-men, women and children
land 5o0,0o0 Greeks without any prev
ocation at ALL"
DEPRESSING for a moment and taking
up home affairs, Lloyd George deliv-
cred scorching denunciation OF Lord
Gladstone, who, he charged, "has given
himself airs such as his great father
never in his most exalted days took
upon himself"
In another reference to Lord Glass-
the coalition for it's handling Of Near
East affairs, the Premier remarked:
aThere is no more ridiculous spectacle
than dwarf striding before the foot
lights in garments inherited from
giant
Returning TO his explanation Of his
policy in the Near East the Premier
said that Gallipoli was held only by
q semi-peiice battalion and that tho
Turks had plenty Of transport to ems
able them to cross the Straits there.
Recalls French Message
sWhy didn't we have an understand
ing with cur allies to hold the Asiatic
side r. Lloyd George asked. 1We
thought we had. Will you believe it.
that only few weeks ago we resolved
message from che French govern
ment that IL either the Greeks or
Turks invaded the. neutral xcne they
should be resisted by force. We &C.
eepted that. We thought they nneant
It. How were we to believe thAt IL
was only intended for one aide II
Referring to the charge thHt Britain
was unnecestarisy hallicoSs In iss at-E
titnde at che Dardanelles Lloyd George !
said:
ssIt il no pso trying 10 bluff Ayst-
class fighting animal You can hluK !
towards, but les no use with real,
brave men. They know when youe
mean business, and when you don {. =
The Premier than tnxned his shafts
of sarcasm on former Premier Asquit9
and Niscornt Crsy, saying Well, ol i
spatsenees aAd sforbeazing diplouaacs &
Id 1914 ended Ia the most disAstxor 4
war the world has ever seen. AnAtW ri
dipionacy' III 1922 has, anyhc a
'braught peace. !" s.
Affirming that freedom of the Dare n
nelles always had bean ths Liberai #