Grey River Argus and Blackball News WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1922 LLOYD GEORGE.

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1922 LLOYD GEORGE.

Delivered every moining in Gr< _>uth, K— «-*, Hckitika, Dob son, Wailsend, Tayloi/iilc. Cronddun. Ngahere. Blackball, Nelson Creek, Brunner, Te KiugliA Rotomanu, Poerua, Inchbonnie, Patara, Ruru, Kannata, Kotuku Moana, Aratika, Bunanga. Dunoliie, Cobden, Baxter's, Kokiri, Ahaura. Ikamatua, StUlwater. Waiuta, Reel ton, Ross, Ruatapua, Mananuc Hari Hari, Waiho Gorge, Weheka, RewanuL Otira. Inangahua Junction, Westport, Wainiangarosu Denniston, Granity, Millerton, Ngakawau. Hectoc ( Seddonville, Cape Foul wind, and Karam*? g*.

I — - IT is a long lane that has no turning, and the oligarchy of Britain seem now disposed to get rid of Lloyd George, who has served their turn since they ousted Asquith. The wizard from Wales has got out of touch with the democracy through being so constrained by the designs of the wealthy, and just at the time when he is disposed to light for the dictates of his own conscience, he becomes no longer a useful tool. Considering the ill-repute which his Near Eastern policy has brought, it is reasonable to suppose he personally reckons the Turks a real menace to civilization; but Britain has no money for another war, even if she has plenty of unemployed willing to light. The French plotters have helped the Turks back to power, and the British Plutocrats have compromised with those of France. British Labour is opposed to war on principle, and that fact has further weakened Lloyd George’s po- i i sition, because he is now able to influence nobody. 'Hence his press booster (Garvin) of the “Observer”), who is alive to the changes of the wind, now tells his erstwhile idol that he must get out. The oil magnates are evidently changing their plans. That is why we heay of a new departure in British diplomacy. The oil people don’t care if the Turks murder Christianity but they don’t want to bfeggar their chances of getting the Asiatic petrol. The latest news from the Near East shows that the British forces are now doing some good work, by protecting Christian refugees, and it is to be hoped they will not be called off, lest the Turks get a free hand to repeat'their old butcheries. British Labour objects, as all workers object, to sordid trade wars, but there will be no demand to leave refugees at the mercy of Turkey. An appeal to the Dominions for the protection of human beings is calculated to meet a better

response than one for some commercial or territorial advantages. If the Western Powers npw neglected to protect the Christians from the Turks, they would stand convicted of a crime against humanity. It is safe to say that the fall of Lloyd George, though it is inevitable, will not come

through the fatigue or weakness alleged against him, but through his kicking against the curb. Asquith may calculate upon replacing him, but if It comes to a choice between two evils, it will be hard to decide. It is likely enough that Churchill is the destined nominee of the plutocracy for the Premiership, though an early general election might take the choice out of their hands, and put Labour in a ! position to dictate far more effectively than in any previous Parliament in British history. The best hope for the Coalition is the Tory fear of Labour, which is growing in prestige and power every day in the Old Country. It is clear that Labour’s dictation has already been a big factor in stopping a Near East war. The demand of the working class, both in Britain and in the Dominions, to be consulted before being committed to war, must work a revolution eventually in foreign policy. At anyrato, the dropping of Lloyd George as pilot, will presage a new era in imperial policy, and considering that his democratic antecedents were considered essential by the ruling class

during the past few years in order to influence the popular mind, the indications are that greater concessions than ever will soon have to be made to the convictions of the masses.