Free-trade was not only best in the interests of commerce,
but it was a great pacificator. It was "slowly but surely clearing a path through the dense and dark thicket of arma- ments to the sunny land of brotherhood among nations." But though the alpha, it was not the omega of the Liberal policy, and Mr. Lloyd George in a significant passage expressed a wish "to see reorganised the great inland transport system of this country so as to get rid of the wasteful competition which is a burden upon the industry and the trade and commerce of the country." He concluded by emphasising the need of a forward policy in regard to the land system, and reiterated his intention to do what in him lay to relieve the degradation of the poor. In this context we may note that in two of his other speeches Mr. Lloyd George stated that he was ready to bet that there would be old-age pensions in this country within twelve months.
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