LLOYD GEORGE IN ACTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13488, 19 May 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

LLOYD GEORGE IN ACTION.

Watching Lloyd George, Great Britain's new Premier, in action is something like listening to the low, clear hum of a powerful dynamo. The diminutive Welsh statesman simply exudes fore?,' but he does it gracefully. He is not a "spread eagle" political orator. His words issue smoothly. His voice is* pleasantly low but clear. His diction is.an example of lightning thought. His manner is easy. / When the new war leader of the British nation wants to impress his hearers he takes an easy pose, lifts his head slightly and enunciates like a man who might say tensely through extreme determ illation? "By G—, I will." That was the manner'in which Lloyd George uttered his forceful words. "Complete Restitution, Full Reparation, Effectual Guarantees against Repetition," in the House of Commons recently. Whatever Lloyd George's words meant to Great Britain and her Allies, also Germany and her allies, they were spoken in a way that told every actual hearer of the leader's voice tliat thev

were more than mere words. Whatever follows the pacifist's plea to all the belligerents for peace negotiations, the British Premier s brief phrase, quietly spoken on the floor of the House of Commons, indicates that, so far as Great Britain is concerned, it was Lloyd George's final word to the German Chancellor's demand for what Britons call premature cessation of hostilities.

One minute before Lloyd George spoke his fateful words, ' his elbows rested on the shoulder-high table before him. His body hung at an easy slant, and as he spoke, he quickly scanned a small pile of notes. He slowly turned, his clear-cut Celtic features and wellbrushed, but somewhat long, iron greyhair, swinging toward that part of the House where England's most ardent peace advocates habitually place themselves. Then came the powerful words that Europe was waiting for—somewhat more like a low muttered curse than the greatest utterance of the war. There was no undue rising inflection: no swinging of arms; no swishing of coat tails—merely "Com-plete Restitution, Full Reparation, and Effect-ual Guarantees against Repetition." The last words were almost buried in his notes as the Premier scanned them again while the House, from floor to galleries, gave him a roaring cheer. The little Welshman, whose bovhood goes back to his uncle's small cobbler's shop in the Welsh hills is undoubtedly the most imposing figure in the British Parliament. His entrance in the House causes a hush. He walks quickly, almost jerkily. He sits down rapidly and begins his work. There is never a far-away look in his eve. He is eternally busy. One minute he is in rapid-fire conversation with some nearby colleague on the Ministerial bench, probably Mr Bonar Law. The next moment he has beckoned some other Minister or member for something else. Often these rapid conversations have to do with vital questions of Government. Routine doesn't appeal to Lloyd George. The ordinary business of the House goes on about him unheeded. He ignores routine for more important work, unless the routine personally concerns him.

Twenty minutes before Great Britain's new Premier entered the House to make his famous answer to the German peace proposals he had callec Neville Chamberlain. Lord Mavor of Birmingham, away from a railway station to make him Director of National Service—probably the most important-newly-created war post in the Government.

With Chamberlain's acceptance, Llovd George was on his way from Downing Street to the House of Commons. Ten minutes after he entered he tackled the question Europe had been waiting for—what the new Government thought of peace. In ten minutes more he had finished the statement and had started to outline the policy of the Government —L ovd George's Government, created by him probablv in the shortest time Known to British Ministerial crises

It tin? speech which held a crowded Houst> of Commons enthralled for two hours—galleries filled with peers, ambassadors, and famous generals; floor jammed with England's most famous men—can be any indication of Britain's determination to win the war, the result can be 6afely forecasted. ' ( Groat Britain's first and only real Big Stick" is without doubt in the firm grip of n little Welshman, who shows every indication of knowing the art of swinging it.