BRITISH EMPIRE

Southland Times, Issue 19292, 10 July 1924, Page 5

BRITISH EMPIRE

LLOYD GEORGE ELOQUENT “THE CITADEL OF PEACE” COLONIAL TROOPS PRAISED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 9. (Received July 9, 5.5 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George, speaking at a dinner tendered by Lord Beaverbrook to the Dominion journalists, painted an eloquent picture of the resources of the Empire, the vastness of which, he said, staggered the imagination. The great essential was unity, which must not be made a questionof race, party, or creed. The present task was to find a basis, covering the multitudinous interests concerned, without which the Empire was not secure. The first step in that direction would be closer consultation, and the second improved communications. No real progress had been made •o improve the steamship intercourse, despite years of discussion. “Let us,’’ he appealed, “seek not to quarrel about the Empire, as quarrels impede progress. Let us seek unity as the Empire increases its bounds and becomes more and more democratic.” Mr Lloyd George added that the Press alone could make a democratic Empire postdate, and secure the triumph of a united Empire of free peoples which would be the the watch-tower of the Citadel of Peace, Liberty, and Fairplay in the world. The ex-Premier paid a glowing tribute to the Dominions’ troops in the war and said: “I sometimes tremblingly wondered what would have happened if a million of the world’s bravest had not come from the Dominions to help us. I will never forget the spring of 1918, when the Australians, near Mayence, broke the spearhead which was being thrust into the heart of the British Army.”