Lloyd George Explains Criticism of Sir Alfred Mond

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

“No one respects the Jewish race more than I do,” declared David Lloyd George, former British Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, in an address during which he offered an explanation of his statement concerning Sir Alfred Mond’s leaving the Liberal Party.

Replying to a vote of thanks proposed by the former member of Parliament, Joseph Sunlight, a local Jewish Liberal leader, at a meeting in Shrewsbury, Lloyd George touched upon the criticism voiced against him for his statement regarding Sir Alfred Mond.

“Whatever comments I may have made upon certain specimens and there are specimens in every race and I criticize them all I have always been a great protagonist of his rice. No one has resented more strongly than I attacks made upon that race,” he declared.

Although Lloyd George did not mention the name of Sir Alfred Mond during his address, he obviously alluded to him. “Nothing fills me with greater contempt than to see newspapers which are drenched with anti-Semitism trying to make political capital from the criticism which I passed upon a certain member of that race. That is all I wish to say about this matter,” he concluded.

When the announcement by Sir Alfred Mond of his resignation from the Liberal Party and his intention to join the Conservative Party was made last week Lloyd George stated:

“The real reason is given in that part of Sir Alfred Mond’s letter to Lord Asquith where he reveals his conviction that the Liberal Party offered poor prospects for an ambitious man. Like other notorious members of his race, he has gone to his own place.”

The remark of Mr. Lloyd George, in using the expression,”gone to his own place” referred to the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles where a description is given of how the Apostles chose a successor to Judas Iscariot, who, the Acts say, “by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”

This remark caused considerable comment in London.