NATIONAL UNITY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 5

NATIONAL UNITY

AS NECESSARY AS IN

WAR-TIME

NOT THE TIME FOR PARTY

STRIFE

POLITICAL REVIEW BY LLOYD

, GEORGE,

(DMITED PRSSS ASSOOIATION.-COrYRWHT.) (AUS, AND N.Z. CABLE ASBN. AND REUTER.) (Received Decembor 10, 9,30 a.m.) LONDON, 6th December. Mr. Lloyd George, in a speech at the Manchester Reform Club, addressing the gathering as "fellow-Liberals," pointed out that the conditions within the Liberal Party had been distressing during the past three yea:3. His separation from the party had pained him deeply, but reasons which affocted the whole country made the split imperative, though there was no disagreement on questions of principle. He had done his utmost to avert the split, but he would have been a traitor if ho had acted otherwise than he did, because he believed thai unless a new spirit was imparted into the war the Allied cause would have been lost. Continuance of national unity was still as necessary as in war-time. Party conflict should not yet be resumed. Ho had never in his lifetime quarrelled with Mr. Asquith, and he would never, utter a word of unkindness against him. Party shriU in America had resulted in jeopardising peace, and endangering the League of Nations in a country wlnch_ took a prominent part to promote it. Was not this a warning that we were not through the wood ? Germany thought she would be able to | take advantage of the differences, in America.

The.Premier declared he was a Freetrader. _ Proceeding, he outlined the legislation passed by the Coalition Government as evidence of what a so-called "reactionary Government" had done for progress. He hoped, he said, to make a successful contribution to the Irish question. He pointed out that the Unionists were prepared to make great sacrifices in order to preserve national unity, but it was useless to discuss the problems of Irish liberty when crime and anarchy were rampant. He denied that Free Trade was inseparable from dumping, which injured Free Trade. The Government had been asked to divide the nation in face of a vigilant enemy in order to unite the Liberals on German dumping.