The Washington herald., 1922-07-29
EUROPE DRIFTS
TOWARDS WAR,
PREMIER FEARS
Lloyd George Urges
Churchmen to Combat
Spirit of Hostility.
PICTURES HORRORS
Building of Powerful Armies
And Navies Held as
Menace to Peace.
PICTURES HORRORS

LONDON, July 2s.-Fear that the
nations of Europe are drifting into
another war has prompted Premier
Lloyd George to sound a warning
against the upbuilding Of new
armies and machines of war.
He is urging that public opinion
mobilize itself at once to check
this spirit of hostility, before "a
match is dropped" on the explosive
material now scattered over the face
of Europe.
Speaking at a luncheon of the
Non-Conformist Church here. the
British premier called on all
churches to combine to make an
other war impossible.
There is a growing suspicion
that a conflict is coming again"
Lloyd George said. Nations are
building up armies-nations which
I'll not say did not exist, but ma
tions that have been submerged
and buried are building up new
armies. They have animosities, ma
tional fears, suspicious. dislikes and
ambitions which have been fos-
tered and exaggerated. Keep your
eye on what is happening. They
are constructing more terrible ma
chimes than the late war ever saw"
War on Civilization.
Some nations. the premier as
serted, are constructing more terri
BILE machines of war than were ever
made during the last struggle. ma
chimes not designed to disperse
armies but ito attack defenseless
cities, and main. kill. poison. mutt
late N hn ~
children"
IF the next war ever comes, II
will be a war on civilization it.
self" the premier warned.
While pointing out that Great
Britain has reduced its army, navy
and air forces. thus setting an ex-
ample for the whole world. he in
sisted that 1t would be difficult to
continue this policy as long as other
nations are building up their mill
tary strength.
TT is difficult for a nation to
remain defenseless while other ma
tions are building up armaments
of destruction" the premier said.
The horrors he had seen, Lloyd
George said. had made him VOW
ito consecrate my remaining ener-
gies to make 1t impossible for hu-
manity to again pass through the
fire, torment. cruelty, horror and
squalor of war;"
Sees Hope In League.
He attached high hope to the
league Of nations as an essential
part of civilization, which, he de-
clared, would be safe il the league
succeeded. but doomed il the league
failed.
At this moment the strongest
passions of the human heart are
ranging themselves on the side of
war, the British premier told the
churchmen.
IF this fury continues. a great
clash will inevitably come" he de-
clared. Explosive material Is
scattered over the face of Europe.
When the match is dropped II will
pe too late to wave the covenant
of the league of nations. 1t is q
new spirit that Is wanted. We
want to lock up these explosives,
and especially lock up those who
are given to dropping matches.
Human nature hasn't enough
petrol to keep it in the sky above
the clouds for more than a certain
period. When It comes down to
earth 1t will come down with
bump. and only religion can refill
the tank"
Public opinion. he said. must be
behind the machinery of peace
Lloyd George said he was the first
one at Paris to propose that the
league of nations should be an es-
sential part OF the treaty