New Britain herald., 1922-10-21
Declares, Banner of Party Strife, Has Been Hoisted Issue is Now, Whether Party Comes First or Nation Should Stand for the People"
Makes Vigorous Defense of His Administration - Wants to Visit U. s. But Is Too Busy Just at Pres- ent.

Leeuo, EHe" OCl. zl, tby AsSoclaG- ed Press) Lloyd George, the retiring premier, speaking at a great meeting iof coalition liberals here this after noon declared the banner of party strife had been hoisted at the re- cent meeting of conservatives at the Carlton club which voted against con- tinuing the coalition.
 Tt is for the purpose of this coun- try" he exclaimed Ito decide whether party comes first or the nation should stand for the people,
 Lloyd George asserted that the combination which had achieved the victory in the late war had been brought to-an end not because it had ceased to serve the nation, but be- cause party was not getting enough out of it.
 He then launched into a vigorous defense of his administration in his usual picturesque language.
 Has Tried Hard.
 T haze sought honestly, sincerely, and with it my dominant purpose. to serve my native land to the best of my ability" said Lloyd George in de- lending his administrative acts.
 Tn the war the government did everything it could. I am told: You may have been very good war min- ister but you are no good in peace War is not bad test and l have done a few things in peace.''
 When Lloyd George raised his voice in his challenge from the wilderness" he was greeted by a capacity audience.
 The hall seats 5000 persons and more than twice that number applied for admission.
 With the ex-premier on the plat form were Sir Hamar Greenwood, for mer chief secretary for Ireland. Charles A. McCurdy, parliamentary secretary of the treasury and some
 Mir. Lloyd George mentioned some of the peace time work he had done saying for one thing:
 T took leading part in stablish- ing the system of old age pensions and health insurance
 Defends Versailles Pact.
 Other pungent utterances during his speech were
 "The treaty of Versailles has be come charter of liberty to tens of millions of people today.
 The first clauses of the treaty of Versailles esta ablished the league of nations Although we have not rid Europe of the burdens of armaments, that treaty is the first act in the great drama of peace. I predict that the derlocracies of other lands will not continue to bear the burden of large armaments when they see cen tral Europe free from that oppres- sion.
 Tt is great human charter that will be attained more and more as the years go by
 We are the only people in Europe who have completely balanced our budgets.
 We have recaptured the money market of the world. Our credit is as good as it ever was, and better.
 We have peace throughout the world If this situation had not been handled very carefully anything might have happened.
 If Lord Balfour had not come to the disarmament arrangement with the United States of America you might have had competition in arm ament and a huge increase in taxa ton which would have besn crush ing"
 Those who were expecting @ sen- sational announcement from the re- tiring premier were disappointed There was no suggestion of the for nation of a new party
 Mir. Lloyd George declared the whole bent ot his mind was demo cratic and progressive" and he ar dently defended the coalition as an instrument by which the country had done its part in winning the war and through which reconstruction had been effected.
 In answer to an interruption from his audience Lloyd George said:
 "Bonar Law is still a friend of mine and I should he sorry to say that would put an end to that personal friendship"
 Alluding to the United States. he declared:
 "The United States and ourselves march side by side the path of peace has decided to leave his writing desk. and in good will"
 Lloyd George has keen desire to visit the United States and was pleased today when he read news dis patches carrying the announcement by James J. Davis, American secre- tary of labor, that the American Cor send Welsh society had invited him to cross the Atlantic for tour. Ow. ing to the political situation which has put the little Welshman on the he cannot make any definite plans for such trip at the present time.
 Tonight he expects to return to london and help Mrs. Lloyd George with the packing preparatory to va eating 10 Downing street the official residence of the former premier.
 Tn accordance with ancient custom he will leave in the house one article