PEOPLE BEHIND GOVERNMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 285, 14 September 1935, Page 5

PEOPLE BEHIND GOVERNMENT.

LLOYD GEORGE PRAISES SPEECH.

RISEN TO THE HEIGHTS

LONDON, September 12.

Speaking at Plymouth to-day, Mr D. Lloyd George referred to the ItaloAbyssinian dispute and the Foreign Secretary’s speech in the League Assembly. He said that in a crisis of this kind! the Government that represented Britain and the cause of right was for that moment at any rate a National. Government in the real sense of the term. It spoke for the nation as a whole. It was well that all nations in Europe should know that he was confident that the country, without distinction of party, would be behind the Government in its decision to support the League Covenant. Of Sir .Samuel Hoare’s speech as a whole, he said it was outspoken, lucid, straightforward and adroit. Sir Samuel had risen to the heights of a very great occasion.

Mr Lloyd George declared that sanctions must be effective. Anything less would bring ridicule on the League, which could not afford to lace moro derision and must not repeat the mistake which it made with Japan. Sanctions would have been less drastic and more effective if Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech had been made three months ago, followed by action. “I hope Sir Samuel Hoare will stand by his declaration firmly,” said Mr Lloyd George. “Otherwise we may get out of this quarrel only to become involved in a much greater one, where neither Britain’s honour, word nor conscience are concerned.”

Referring to the control of primary products, Mr Lloyd' George said: “As a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles, I do not think the time is ripe for revision of mandates.”