Evening star., 1922-10-22
COALITION WRECK
A NATIONAL CRIME,
LLOYD GEORGE SAYS

CONTINUED from First Page.)
Of real campaign enthusiasm. which
was repeated by those gathered
within.
THE banner of party strife has
been hoisted at the Carlton Club.
said Mr.. Lloyd George in opening his
speech In defense of his administra-
tion at the meeting of the coalition
liberals here this afternoon.
The great combination OF men OF
all parties and creeds for national
purposes, the combination which led
US to victory in the war and which
was taking US gradually but surely
out of our troubles in peace. has been
brought to an end. not because II mas
ceased to serve the nation, but be-
cause a party was not getting enough
out of II, and II is for the people of
this country to decide whether party
comes before the nation.
The combination was subjected TO
criticism from more diverse and con-
fiicting quarters and viewpoints than
almost any government. It had one
or two disadvantages. II had no
steady partisan press which could be
depended upon. whatever happened.
to defend its action. A second weak
ness, from the viewpoint of dealing
with and disposing of criticism. arose
out of the fact that no ministers IN
any administration that ever existed
in this country have been SO con-
tinually hard worked.
"I am now going to begin to tell
the story from day to day. from week
to week at any rate. until the cleo
ton is over. and having done So. l
am willing to put my record in the
hands of the people. I have served
them well, honestly and sincerely, and
with one dominant purpose. namely.
to serve my native land to the best Of
my ability.
Government Won War.
Governments can organize material
resources and resources in men. They
can organize the nation at home and
face and sustain their responsibilities
II there is failure at home it means
failure on the battlefield. Loss of
morale at home is always reflected on
the battlefield. They were closely re-
lated in the war and stories at home af-
fected the soldiers in the field.
broke down. Their soldiers were brave.
Let US recognize an enemy's courage
But they heard stories Of starvation.
privation and misery at home. That un-
dermined their spirit and courage.
ut was vital for the ministers here
to sustain spirit which would clear
the road to victory. / claim this gov
ernment did everything government
could do for that purpose. We did our
best to promote unity at home and
among the forces. SO as to enable the
full strength Of the allies to be con-
centrated at the right point and at the
right moment, and as a matter OF fact
the leading part In promoting that unity
was taken by u.s."
Mr.. Lloyd George declared the resolu-
ton forming the basis on which the
league of nations was built, was moved
by the British delegation at the peace
conference, OF which he was the head.
Declaring the treaty of Versailles had
become the charter of liberty to tens of
millions Of people today, and pointing
out that its first clauses had established
the league Of nations, Mr.. Lloyd George
said of that treaty:
Many Races Liberated.
ut restored Alsace and Lorraine to
France, 1t restored the Italian provinces
north of Italy to Italy. These ques-
tions, which were q kind Of 1umor in
the constitution of Europe and a source
removed. We liberated a aumber Of
races which for centuries had been un-
der the rule Of the oppressor. In central
and southern Europe populations which
numbered in the aggregate 20,o00,o00.
were freed by one great act prepared
has given a charter Of freedom to mil
lions of people.
I'VE destroyed the great armaments
In central Europe which made the
war. Conscription In central Europe
is gone. The greatest source of
worry and menace in this country has
disappeared-the huge army which
ened the horizon in Europe like a
dense thundercloud hanging in the
air. Everybody was watching to see
when the flash would rend 1t and de-
stroy Europe. And 1t did. That army
has gone.
This is the first act in tho great
drama Of peace, and I predict that
the democracies of other lands viii
not continue to bear the burden OF
huge armaments when they see CEN
trail Europe free from that oppres-
sion. Conscription disappeared here
a few months after the war. 1t will
disappear before many years in other
lands as WELL"
Mr.. Lloyd George then took UP the
national credit, pointing out that the
British were the only people in Eu-
rope who had completely balanced
their budget.
Appearance Of Prosperity.
There were two courses open to US.
One was to follow the method adopt
ed by every country on the continent
of Europe-to borrow and go on bor-
rowing. It has the appearance OF
prosperity. You can keep taxation
down. You 60 on borrowing, but your
credit gets lower and lower. 1t was
the popular course to go on borrow
ing. There would have been less un-
employment for the time being.
There were always those making
cheap speeches about economy. but
whenever we faced the problem OF
cutting down some item and got into
dificulty with the people interested
the .anti-waste' party was never
there.
"The one great test was the dollar.
America has practically received all
the gold reserve of Europe. and
America was in a very prosperous
condition. Before the war II you
went to America you would receive
1856 for your sovereign. After the
war you would only receive S3.2o.
Everything you bought in America
cost you much more. because the pur.
chasing power Of the sovereign had
gone down.
I'VE went on reducing expenditure
and balancing our budget. Having
no deficiencies. what happened? The
credit of this country rose and rose.
Our sovereign. instead of being $500.
IL now $4.47. We are just beginning
to look the dollar in the face on equal
terms. We need not bow the head.
We are very nearly where we were
before the war. That Is because our
two chancellors Of the exchequer. Mr..
onA G;r pnhnrt urppA