Mr. Lloyd George was the guest of the Oxford Union
on Friday week, when lie spoke of his land policy before a crowded house and in the customary atmosphere of chaff or solemn badinage. The account in the Manchester Guardian says that he " showed all his capacity for studying and profit- ing by the temper of his audience," and that he was "singularly genial, courteous, and careful of the susceptibilities of his hearers." He said nothing new, but the general sense of the speech was that the Unionists had not dared definitely to oppose any one of the five cardinal points of the " Land
Charter." " I do not despair," he said, " of a national settle- ment." He argued for a long time against the unofficial Unionist proposals of land purchase and grants in aid of housing. As for Protection, he regarded it as done with, and described Mr. Bonar Law as trying to croon the abandoned baby to sleep. Finally he challenged his opponents in these words : " If you condemn my proposals you will be doing what your leaders do not venture to do." The motion condemning the Government land policy was defeated by 654 votes to 586.
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