The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-11

second rate leadership tods
democracy.
In an exclusive interview with
the United Press, the war time
prime minister lamented the
spreading fears of conflict, criti-
cized the isolation of Soviet Russia
from European councils and found
one ray Of hope that peace might
be preserved.
The fact that all nations
are full Of apprehension and
therefore full Of vigilance to-
day may help TO avert or Mt
the worst 20 postpone the
catastrophe" Lloyd George
said.
But he expressed the belief that
Russia, with vast resources and
man power, wa the decisive fac
tor" in the struggle between the
so-called democrscies and dicta-
torships.
Russian Snub Is Puzzle
The snubbing Of Russia in the
crisis Of 1888 by sccond-rate states
men who are directing French and
British diplomacy viii always re-
main one of the puzzles of history"
Lloyd George said. The historian
can find no explanation for 1t *
cept abnormal stupidity.
I'VE may abhor the doctrines
~ the autocrncies and still
more the methods Of Hitler
and MuSsollni. hut intellectu-
ally they ara giants confronted
by men whose mental stature
h just average"
The great need Of the democratic
powers, he said, Is for strong
and eteadfast leadership" that will
dispel the conviction Of the dicta-
tors that the dcmocracies will
submit to any affront or any out
rage rather than fight"
Sparkling Eyes
I interviewed Lloyd George as
ne sat ut his desk. a white haired
old man with bright. sparkling
eyes that turned frequently to
stare reminiscently out across the
Thames embankment. This man
who knew 30 much about the last
war, / believed. must have a great
deal to say to a world worried that
II would soon be hurled into the
next conflict.
Al &c, he Ia the only war
time premier or president still
alive. He was n Of the 'biG
FOUR 1T Versailles. The others.
Wilson, ClemcnccAu and Or
1amdo. havs gone. There are
few mon today In active public
life who watched the last con-
f1ict from . cabinet post.
do you see a resemblance be-
tween the situation today and the
situation In the days preceding the
world war? Do you think var is
impending ?" I asked Lloyd George.
Yes and no." ne replied. You
have the same feverish prepara-
tons for war among the great
nations. but on a vastly greater
and more costly scale and with a
much greater feeling OF urgency.
Fear War Imminent
'In 1914 there were many who
thought that war was inevitable,
but they did not expect 1t to come
N soon. Today there Is everywhere
the tremor of imminence In the air
which Is shaking business and rat
ting nerves in every sphere of life.
do you think that Killers
Germany Ia more dangerous than
the Germany of the kaiser"
He slowly shook the long white
name which flows ba2k from his
brow and falls In a white mass
almost to his collar.
stOnly In the sense that the
resources Of Germany arc now
directed by . much more pow
erful and resolute personality
than that Of the supreme war
lord Of 1914" he said.
"Otherwise, Germany In less
dangerous. Her army Is not COM
parable to the perfect military
machine Of 1914. Foch told me
that was the finest army that ever
marched into war. Hitler cannot
forge such q weapon for many
years to come. 1t is the work OF
. generation"
FFeacA Army Praised
'What about France and Great
Britain, u their position relatively
weaker than in 1914. Has Munich
weakened their position ?" ! asked.
France has the best trained and
o6ficered army In the world" he
replied. "Britain's army is inferior
IN number and reserves to the
expeditionary force OF 1914. but
she has BY far the most formidable
11eet In Europe"
Munich, ~ satd. had apprc-
caahay weakened the military
poG1tien of The demOcracies by
depfiving then Of the fortified
Heg1saa IL bohemia and the
uo0-trn1ned And well : equip
- army II Cxechoslovnkia.
But the decisive factor is Rus
uA,' h went on. That great
country possesses three or four
times the number Of trained SOL
diers which Hitler can put in the
neld. What u more important
efAl. IN transport and means of
turning out munitions OF war its
army y infinitely superior to the
ha0Iy equipped and miserably sup
plted army a 1914.
Fnaon~.s. F:.. cL..-I