3 APRIL 1915, Page 1

Mr. Lloyd George, considering the sweeping character of the proposals

made to him, went much further in his answ,r than might have been expected. He showed plainly that he. at any rate, is on the side of the sliipbuilders and of total prohibition. After stating that, in his opinion, the evidence to enpport their view was "quite irrefutable," and that the facts which had come to his own knowledge bad convinced him that what they had told him represented the truth, he went on to defend the Government for not having up to the present taken more drastic action. The causes for this were that before you take action of this kind you must feel confident that you have the whole country behind you, for you are about to interfere very severely with individual liberties in all classes.