San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-08
A DIPLOMAT IN OUR MIDST

Some people have regarded David
Lloyd-George as politician rather than
statesman. It is in neither of those
roles that he has come to the United
States. Not only in his first speech in
this country, delivered few hours after
his arrival, but in his statements to
newspaper correspondents he displayed
a degree of tact that marks him as a
diplomat. He said nothing that might
possibly arouse resentment. He said
much that may make Americans glad
that he came.
In the first place. he announced that
he had brought no message" to Ameri-
ca, except one of appreciation for the
help extended to his country il the
World War. Nearly all other promi-
ncnt Europeans who have visited the
United States since the war undertook
to preach to Americans, telling them
that their duty to the world and to
themselves was so-and-so. Put Mr..
Lloyd-George said that he had come, not
to preach or teach, but to hear, see and
learn
In the second place, concerning Amer
ica's part in the war. and concerning
conditions after the war and the present
lack of cooperation among the nations
that won the war. the former premier
of Great Britain made assertions even
more likely to elicit the good will of
his hosts. In this respect. too he re-
versed the method employed by most of
the Europeans who have come to the
United States in the last few years.
In a speech to newspaper n'en. which
he knew would be broadcasted over the
world, the willy Welshman made the cpl
grarln,stic assertion that "the real foun-
dation of the British Empire today was
George Washington" Why hadn't some
other English visitor in Our midst
thought of that? Not clever enough,
perhaps; or possibly afflicted with too
much false pride. Washington. Mr..
yd-George explained, taught England
lesson that subsequently, became her
salvation. If England had treated all
her colonial possessions as she treated
America, she would have lost them all.
Who won the war? The European
allies, the former premier went on, were
in a desperate position, fighting the
greatest military machine of all fines
then your boys came over. and we owe
a debt of gratitude We never can repay.
With your boys we worked together, and
that saved the world
How about the present world situa-
tom Mr.. I.loyd-George did not accuse
the United States, as so many other Eu-
ropcans have done. OF forsaking her war
time associates. Again, he said, Europe
is in desperate condition; whereas there
was unity of thought and action in the
war; there is none now; the various ma
tons are going their separate ways at
is not that you broke away ne said
"but that all of us broke away from each
other"
| What to Go to save the situatiun? All,
that was another matter, and one that
Mr.. Iloyd-Gcorge would not discuss dur
ing his visit to America. He had not
come to preach to Americans; he had
come to learn something from them.
So, it would rot be surprising if the
welcome accorded Great Britain's dis
tinguished former premier should be sur
passingly hearty in every American city
he visits. He knows how to play the
role OF guest, and it is to be hoped that
all Americans with whom he comes into
contact with show him that their coun-
contact will show him that their coun,
i A GREAT POTENTIAL ARMY