The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1922. FOR THE DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 245, 16 October 1922, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1922. FOR THE DEFENCE.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Frequently Mr. Lloyd George ie in his very best form when he is on his defence. All his skill in oratory comes into play. There is no one so able in making telling points and driving them home. Sarcasm, invective, humour, scorn, idealism, and humility are employed in turn, and not only is the utmost use made of the brief for the defendart, but he turns defence into attack and carries war boldly into the enemy's quarters. The brief for the defence that he expounded at ManChester on Saturday was in many respects strong. The troubles in the Near East are inherited troubles. They have been complicated by the Great War, but they go back far beyond 1914. Britain is not the sole agent of Europe in this matter, but shares the responsibility with other Powers. France might have made things easier for us in the early stages of the recent crisis, and Mr. Lloyd George accuses the French Government of first saying that France would resist invasion of the neutral zone, and afterwards backing down. It is a fair point to ask his critics what they would have done had Britain not prepared for the possibility of war, and the Turks had simply ignored their diplomatic notes and gone forward into Thrace. How could the League . of Nations, as suggested, liandle the crisis when there is no guarantee or even promise that the Turks would respect its decisions, and it has no force behind it? In Mr. Lloyd George's reference to the settlement there is a faint suggestion of Disraeli's "peace with horrour." Let ub hope there will be more peace and more honour than there was in the Treaty of Berlin, but in the situation as one sees it there are grave doubts about both commodities. The Turks are back where they were in 1914, and Christian populations are again at their mercy. Concern for these minorities is in accordance with the highest traditions of English sentiment, but mere concern will not protect lives. From the Near East Mr. Lloyd George turned to other problems arising from the war and to domestic affairs. He declared that he never sought the Premiership, that he offered during the war to serve under others, and that twice since the war he had suggested stepping down to a subordinate position. This statement is made to counteract the charges that he intrigued Mr. Asquith out of office in 1016, for which alleged offence the Independent Liberals have never forgiven him, and that his policy is frequently- dictated by love of office. But why. it may be asked, if he felt like this in 1010 and afterwards, did he give his consent to the relentless political persecution of the Asqnithian Liberals at the "couponkhaki" election of 1018? Why did a man who now talks so loftily of national interests and party gain permit the Coalition to promise the electorate things which, as his subsequent memorandum to the Peace Conference showed, he knew it was impossible or gravely undesirable to deliver? With that skill j., Hoiw.- tor which he is famous he said ' ,1 ' '"" May that it wotiM be a m. to van.. ~„„ Ins retirement his criti.-s solving those foreign and domestic problems concerning which they were so ready to criticise the Government. It is quite true that it is easy to criticise, but

often most difficult to act. Hie opponents can retort, however, that he and his Government arc in a measure responsible for the impasee that has arisen over reparations and debts. Was it really wise to publish the Balfour Note at such a time and in such terms? And his thrust about expondit.ire and taxation will at once lie met by the reply that whoever takes over the Government now will have to shoulder the consequences of all the waste and extravagance committeVJ since the Armistice. The Prime immediate future will depend upon factors that cannot be accurately gauged from this distance. A wing of the I'nionist party, which is much the stronger partner in the coalition, seeks his expulsion, and is reported to be going to move in that direction in the party convention. Mr. Chamberlain, on the other hand, who is the leader of tbe party, stands by his chief. A split in the Conservative party, similar to that which has divided llie Liberals, is threatened. With both the main pnrties divided. Labour's prospects will be substantially bettered. Speaking at about the same time as the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain deliberately warned the country against what he considered the danger of the Labour party coming back from tbe country strong enough to form a Government, li is the first lime Labour has been paid the compliment of being taken so seriously by a party leader on an important occasion. It has at once taken up the challenge. For how long the Coalition will carry on no one knows. Mr. Chamberlain defended this method of Government strongly on the ground of lhe need : for unity, but can anyone pretend v. think that there are not difference, oi opinion on great .jucs-lir-us of policy between tbe Conservative leader and thr Radical Mr. Lloyd George? This weakness the Coalition's enemies will exploit to the full.