Land Nationalization

Last week the famed British Liberal, David Lloyd George, encountered heavy going when he attempted to secure the endorsement of the Liberal Candidates' Association for his new land nationalization scheme (TIME, Sept. 28).

At first Mr. George pleaded for this unemployment panacea in its original form: 1) "Resumption of ownership" by the Government of all arable land; 2) the former landlords to be reimbursed by guaranteed sums equivalent to their present rent; 3) unemployed city and country laborers to be drawn into the small farmer class as "cultivating tenants" of the Government.

Shortly it appeared that the Liberals were reluctant to follow leader George into a situation which might restore him to all his old prestige if the panacea "worked"; and might brand the Liberal Party as a parcel of radicals if the measure failed either in Parliament or later. As always the wily George threatened and yielded adroitly. He swore that he would resign from the party and go "out into the wilderness." He cajoled his old follower, Sir Alfred Mond, a bitter foe of land nationalization. At length he yielded, just soon enough to secure notable concessions as a reward for not carrying out his threat to split the party.

As finally adopted by the Liberal candidates, the measure will go to the Liberal convention early next year in such a form as to propose the nationalization of arable land only in the following circumstances:

1) When the land is placed on the market; 2) when a farm becomes vacant; 3) when an estate is badly administered; 4) when a farm is badly cultivated.

Later in the week Mr. George attempted to dispel the prevailing impression that he is seeking a return to power. "I have had a longer stretch of office than any living man. I have served the Crown and nation in some of the highest offices of State. There's nothing an office can give me.

"If I now choose, in a more obscure and humble position, against many difficulties and amid many humiliations, to continue my task in public life, it is because I want to spend the rest of my days and what is left of my strength in serving the people from whom I sprang."