The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-20
PREMIER FLAYS I BENCH J. $. ENVOY
Lloyd George Aroused By Statement France Should Be
 Protected From Friends

ST. LOUIS, Mo, Oct. 19.-Lloyd George Friday struck back at his French critics, when, with a flash ot he fire that distinguished his battles against bitter opposition in the 1 House of Commons. He sternely re- huked Gen. George Dumont, a mili- i fary attsehe of the French embas- ] sy' at Washington, for speech de- l liVered in St. Louis on Thursday
 Dumont attacked Lloyd George in his speech, declaring that France suffered a the hands of her friends, and warning St. Lotus that "a friend Of France would De n towr Friday. lie further declared Germany was i sham'uing Inability to pay repara | ttoEs. ani said he had evidence to support his charge that German in dustrialists were sending huge profits ort of Germany for invest ment abroad to escape paying repa- rations.
 TThe gallant gentlemtn," said Lloyd George, prayed that France be protected from her friends. 1 wish he had not said that l did not hear that prayer once between 1914 and 1918. I shall never forget i embassy in 1914 to his friends in England to come to the help of France. Nine hundred thousand men, scattered in many cemeteries throughout France and Flanders is the proof of our friendship for France.
 stood ID For France.
 T am friend of France a sincere friend. l have proved that. l proved it not with empty phrases, but with deeds. For four and half bitter years, I devoted all my strength to organizing every re- source of the British empire to help France in her agony There was a time in our country wFen difficult ties with France threatened. And opinion favored Ge; many. was then one of very small group in he House of Commons who stood up Cor France.
 "I am lot. in ,eny sense, an apol- ogist for Germany. Everything turns on what a reasonable inter- pretation is of Germany's capacity to pay. This gallant soldier says he has evidence that Gerneny is send ing money out of the country to be invested. If ;t is being invested in London, we can find that out. and I fancy you can find it if it is invested here. There isn't anything much left in the world, for Germany would not invest 1t in France, cer- tainly.
 "Therefore what objection can the gallant gentleman have to an inves- tigation of his evidenSe by a board of experts on which the United States, the only imperial nation in the world on this subject is repre- sented?
 q hope he will not repeat that prayer that France be protected from her friends"
 Holds Right To Advise.
 Lloyd George said that Britain. having sacrificed her men, and with 1,300,000 unemployed now because we went to Ftance's help" has a right to give advice. so that the sac rifice we male shall not he used to perpetuate strife and hatred.
 He declared adoption of the Hughes economic expert plan is the only hope of settling the repara- tions problem. He scid the United States has an obligation, and an in- m bringing about peace and good will on earth.
 Read your papers" he said. Central Europe is day by day slip ping into chaos. confusion, disrup- ton. Once you have chaos there, you never know what monster will come out Of the heart of that chaos"
 Though he was speaking to an audience in Senator Jim Reid's home state, Lloyd Georges statement that the United States had an obligation to help bring ahoUc world brother hooi was warmly applal ded.