EXHAUSTED EUROPE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 6

EXHAUSTED EUROPE

WHAT WILL AMERICA DO? BRITAIN’S POLICY DEFINED BY LLOYD GEORGE. SPEECH AT CHICAGO. By Telegraph.—Tress Assn. —Copyright. Atstralian. and N.Z. Cable Association (Received October 18, 0.30 p.m.) CHICAGO, October 17. Air Lloyd George, who developed a slight icmpeiature and was oidered to : lied fur tho day, recovered sufficiently to add)ess an immense audience at night. Ho said he was about to Rive them “a calm, unemotional, umhetoricnl, fair, and unbiased vj t \v of Europe's position, which is of importance to every community. The Li.itcd States can tolerate the Euro* nean disturbances easier than Britain, out I have found evidence that some important sections, of Ihe United States producers are affected. Eventually, all will bo affected. The iarmors admit that the serious impairment of European purchasing is injuring their exports of grain. EUROPE’S PLIGHT. ‘‘Europe is like a ragged man before the shop windows, watching a well-dressed man buying clothes, and a well-fed man feeding. His need is greater, but ho -cannot buy* until Europe’s prosperity is restored, and he cannot be a customer. Europe is exhausted. Fifteen million men were slaughtered, or died of pestilences. Twenty 'million went mutilated, and are dependent on the State. A sum of 150,000,000 dollars was spent or lost by the belligerents. Their machinery, trade, and commerce were shattered. Hunger and plague stalk the land. Children are dying in millions, men are shot down in bread' riot 9 daily. But Europe will recover. THE DOMINANT QUESTION. “On local disturbances retarding recovery I need not dwell, or on Russia., where tilings are improving rapidly. Reparations is the question dominating future peace or war. Speaking rot only for myself, but for the two Governments since mine, if I can appreciate their attitude, I can say the British attitude is her traditional, temperate policy, free from the spirit, of vengeance, the policy which on two occasions saved France from the fate now being inflicted on Germany. Britain says Germany ought to pay to the limit of her capacity, but capacity must be reasonably interpreted. Britain opposes any policy which utilises reparations obligations as the means of destroying the prosperity, wellbeing, and integrity of defeated countries. BRITAIN’S SACRIFICE. “The world must discover how the huge sums due from one country can be paid in currency acceptable to another. It is no use reckoning un the value of Germany’s assets. Britain stands by this, though the war cost Britain more than any other country—forty thousand million dollars. The Allies delay tho repayment of the money we advanced to them, but we are the only people paying our debts.’' The speech was well received. BEFORE FORGE IS USED INVESTIGATION URGED. TO ENABLE UNITED ACTION. Aariraiiaa. and N.Z. Cable Association (Received October 18, 11.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 17. At Chicago, Mr Lloyd George urged that Mr C. E. Hughes’s proposal for an international investigation of Ger many’s ability to pay should be tried before force was used. If Germany refused to meet the recommendations ot such a conference the Allies could march altogether to enforce it. Till then, the Germans should not be driven to anarchy. The audience numbered over 100,000.