TO "DETHRONE" LLOYD GEORGE

New Zealand Tablet, 21 April 1921, Page 28

TO "DETHRONE" LLOYD GEORGE

AN ENGLISH JOURNALIST'S PREDICTION. "No Government calling itself civilised can go on with the tragedy of Ireland as it is to-day," Mr. S. K. Ratcliffe, English journalist, told the Harvard Liberal Club at its meeting a short time ago. He prophesied the aroused English conscience would dethrone tho Lloyd George Coalition Government. "Unless Premier Lloyd George changes his position, it seems impossible that he can go on," he said. "It is no doubt true Lloyd George was influenced to believe that the Irish Constabulary and the "Black-and-Tans" could destroy the Sinn Fein. That was the understanding when I left England." . 7 Liberalism in England, so far as it has any constructive programme, is practically bankrupt, said Mr. Ratcliffe. "The English Labor Party is much farther away from the political control of England than it appeared to be a year ago," Mr. Ratcliffe declared. "It is true there is a resumption of all endeavors for freedom, and one hears much about free trade and freedom of expression. But prominent leaders who call themselves Liberals are without any true understanding of Labor. "There are prominent men among the Conservatives who are far more in sympathy with. Labor's aims and ambitions than are the Liberals. "The English middle class is being ground out of existence. They must soon make up their minds with whom they will make an alignment. There are many indications that some form of middle class unionism may be attempted but so far any general scheme for uniting the middle class has failed. "A serious housing situation has arisen in England. There has been no building for six years. When mobs of unemployed took possession of baths, libraries, etc., and demanded they be allowed to sleep there, authorities yielded. When the ex-soldiers and others who were destitute insisted the poor relief rate be doubled the relief officers also yielded. This meant tremendous increase. In taxes,-.the burden of which falls, as is usually the case, on the middle class.'? '