14 FEBRUARY 1920, Page 2

In regard to Ireland, the Prime Minister vainly invited Mr.

Adamson to say whether he would give the Sinn Feiners .a Republic. whether he would coerce Ulster, and whether he would withdraw all troops from Ireland and let the gangs of murderers work their will. Mr. Adamson was shrewd enough to keep silence. As for " profiteering," the Prime Minister said, with much truth, that high prices were really due to the depreciation of money, and could only be reduced by increased production, so as to redress the balance of trade. If Mr. Lloyd George would repeat this elementary truth once a week, it is possible that the vulgar error, sedulously propagated by politicians who know better, might in time be corrected. The Government, he added, would be able to balance the Budget and show a surplus.