Page 195. 197. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE (1863- -) David Lloyd George was born, 1863, in Manchester, England, of Welsh parentage, and was educated for the law. He became President of the Board of Trade 1905-1908 and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1908-1915. Long before the outbreak of the war he was recognized as one of the leaders in the liberal movement in England. In 1915 he was made Minister of Munitions, in 1916 Secretary of State for War, and then Premier. His speeches are distinguished by their clearness of vision and tonic, optimistic spirit, as well as by their forceful, original, incisive manner of statement. MEANING OF AMERICA'S ENTRANCE INTO THE WAR 1. See President Wilson's War Message, April 2, 1917. 2. Against Denmark for a portion of her territory, 1864; against Austria, to establish Prussian supremacy over the German States, 1866; against France, for Alsace-Lorraine and a huge indemnity, 1870. 3. The Kaiser in his speeches to his troops has always impressed them with the idea of their invincibility. In them occur phrases such as: "The only pillar on which the Empire rested was the army. So it is today." (Oct. 18, 1894.) 4. Since the early sixties the main interest of the rulers of Germany has been in the development of the army, and since the nineties, of the army and navy. 5. With respect to the French Colonies in Africa Germany's course has been that of a swaggering bully and both in 1905 and 1911 she seemed to have brought France to the verge of war. On the latter occasion she forced France to a humiliating cession of African territory. That Germany did not precipitate actual war was looked upon as a regrettable weakness by many leaders of German opinion. 198. 6. Delcassé, in connection with the African Colonies question (see note 5), was driven from his position as French Minister of Foreign Affairs by the Germans. |