1863–1945) British statesman and politician, diplomat. Member of the House of Commons (1890–1945). Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916–1922). Leader of the Liberal Party (1926–1931). He played an important role at the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920) and in the preparation of the Treaty of Versailles (1919). Head of the British delegation at the Genoa Conference (1922). He actively supported the idea of creating a collective security system in Europe. David George was born on January 17, 1863 in Manchester. His father, William, the son of a farmer from South-West Wales, was educated in London and then became a teacher. Returning to his homeland, Pembrokeshire, he rented a plot of land. In 1864, William George died of pneumonia. Mrs. George with three small children (the eldest daughter Mary was not yet three years old) moved to her brother in North Wales, to the village of Llanistamdwy. From that time on, David's fate for several decades was connected with the fate of his uncle, shoemaker Richard Lloyd. In honor of this man, who replaced his father, David adopted the double surname Lloyd George. He spent his childhood in the village of Llanistamdwy. After graduating from parish school, he passed three exams and received the rights of a solicitor - a solicitor or intercessor in cases. In Crichita, Lloy George founded his own law office. In 1888, David married Maggie Owen, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. The chosen one's father did not consider Lloyd George a suitable match, but he managed to insist on his own. Fifty years later, the couple celebrated their golden wedding, although their paths would diverge long before that... In the same 1888, Lloyd George was elected alderman (elder) of the municipal county of Caernarvon. His first steps in politics led him to the Chamber of Deputies (1890). During this period of his activity, the Welsh MP took a place on the left flank of the Liberal Party. In 1890, Lloyd George settled in London. However, before the beginning of the 20th century, he often came to Wales. David was not even thirty years old when he became one of the leaders of the Welsh nationalists. Lloyd George still believed that the Palace of Westminster played a major role in his political career . In 1898, he wrote to his uncle: “I accepted your motto - the chamber first of all.” Insolence, caustic ability to detect weak points in an opponent's motivation, and wit allowed Lloyd George to become a prominent parliamentarian. When the Liberals came to power in 1905, Lloyd George made his participation in government subject to two conditions: changes to the education law and increased home rule for Wales. On December 12, 32-year-old David crossed the threshold of his Ministry of Commerce for the first time. The Liberal Party remained in power for about ten years. Lloyd George had previously shown little interest in colonial affairs. However, the course towards rapprochement with the Boers aroused his enthusiasm. In 1906, he met with the South African politician and General Smuts, and later met other leaders of the dominions. Lloyd George increasingly turned to various projects for more rational exploitation of the colonies. He concluded that transforming and expanding the empire would help solve social problems within the country. In Asquith's government, Lloyd George became Chancellor of the Exchequer (1908). This post was considered the second most important in the British cabinet. In 1911, Lloyd George turned forty-eight years old. By this time, the “lion’s mane” and “opera” cloak of the Minister of Finance had become a landmark in London. The minister could often be seen at the Covent Garden Opera House. Bernard Shaw, Herbert Wales, the famous playwright J. Barry, G. Irving, Charles Chaplin and other figures of the English intelligentsia visited Lloyd George's house. In England and abroad, Lloyd George, since the Boer War, has gained a reputation as a supporter of the peaceful resolution of international disputes. The Chancellor of the Exchequer himself diligently promoted this assessment, repeating that he intended to “devote himself entirely to the problems of peace, progress and social reform.” At the beginning of the First World War, German leaders promised to achieve victory “before the autumn leaves fall.” On September 19, 1914, Lloyd George, speaking at a rally, recalled that throughout his political life he had been “disgusted at the prospect of participating in a great war.” But now he is convinced that participation is necessary because “our national honor” is at stake, since England has signed two treaties obliging it to “defend the independence, freedom and integrity of our little neighbor” - Belgium. In early December 1916, Lloyd George became Prime Minister of Great Britain. This "dynamic politician" headed the coalition government until October 1922. In the last days of the war, Lloyd George, in his speeches in parliament, emphasized major military successes, truces on certain fronts or the overthrow of governments in countries of a hostile coalition. He even tried to delay the dissemination of information about the truce with the Germans until his appearance in the chamber... Lloyd George organized a “victory parade” in London, which was attended by Clemenceau, Foch, and Italian Prime Minister V. Orlando. The press wrote enthusiastically that Lloyd George was “the organizer of victory.” He brilliantly played out the “epilogue” of the war: he organized hasty elections and, at the head of the renewed coalition, strengthened himself as a “national” leader. At the end of December 1918, Lloyd George formed a new government and a few days later left for Paris, where the peace conference was opening. The triumph of “armchair diplomacy” there was entirely consistent with the views of the British Prime Minister. In fact, all the main issues at the conference were resolved by Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Wilson. Even on the eve of the conference, several important meetings of leading figures of the victorious countries took place. Arriving in Europe at the end of the war, House, Wilson's chief adviser, tried to get the Allies to agree to the President's Fourteen Points. The second point of this American program proclaimed the principle of the so-called “freedom of the seas.” Fierce debate erupted around this point. Lloyd George declared: "Great Britain will spend every guinea to maintain the superiority of her fleet over that of the United States." In the end, House conceded on the issue of "freedom of the seas", which should be attributed to the diplomatic success of Lloyd George. However, the English Prime Minister understood that the main battles lay ahead. He carefully studied the plans of the United States and France and tried to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their leaders. The first weeks of the conference completely satisfied the British Prime Minister. At the end of February, when Wilson was in the USA and Lloy George was in England, the latter said: “Wilson returned home with a bundle of banknotes. I returned with a pocket full of specie in the form of German colonies, Mesopotamia, etc. To each his own taste.” On June 28, 1919, exactly five years after the Sarajevo murder, a peace treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. The UK was the biggest winner. Germany was no longer a rival as a colonial, trading and naval power. The British expanded their sphere of influence to new territories rich in raw materials. In 1920, economists estimated that about 75 percent of the world's oil resources were under British control. In 1920, of the entire “Big Four” (England, France, USA, Italy), only Lloyd George remained in power and therefore occupied a special position among other political leaders. The press called him “the coachman of Europe.” Lloyd George conducted his foreign policy with particular pleasure, having his own staff of unofficial diplomats (as well as his own informants in the Foreign Office). After Balfour, Curzon became Foreign Secretary. But the prime minister often ignored the minister’s opinion or acted behind his back. Poincaré said then that “England has two foreign offices, Lord Curzon and Lloyd George.” Lloyd George can be considered the creator of the "summit" system of meetings. In 1920–1922, with the active participation of the British Prime Minister, more than 30 international conferences and meetings were held. On his initiative, many of them were convened in the most picturesque corners of Europe. In April 1920, he arrived in San Remo, where a conference opened on the development of a peace treaty with Turkey and other international problems. All the most important decisions here were made after confidential conversations between Lloyd George and the French Prime Minister Millerand and other leaders. The fate of the Near and Middle East was discussed in San Remo. Since 1919, England has strengthened its dominance in Arabia, Persia and Egypt, on the banks of the Bosphorus. The duel with France proceeded with an advantage for the British. Having broken Millerand's resistance, Lloyd George forced him to finally cede Palestine and Iraq with Mosul to Great Britain. The Anglo-French oil agreement sought to exclude the American oil business from sharing production. England, France and Italy concluded a secret pact to delimit spheres of influence and economic interests in the Middle East. A draft “peace treaty” with Turkey was agreed upon. The conference in San Remo was called "the apogee of English power." “The East is Britishized,” wrote the publicist J. Kaiser, noting that all seas, economic and political religious capitals, the caliphate, Zionism, Eastern Catholicism, etc. are under the control of England. At the direction of the British cabinet of ministers, a draft Anglo-Soviet economic agreement. On November 18, 1920, Lloy George announced to the House that the project was ready. Having received his text and knowing Curzon’s hostility, Krasin addressed the note directly to the prime minister. Lloyd George, along with Horne, took over the negotiations. The last-minute changes were in line with Soviet wishes. On March 16, Horn and Krasin signed the text of the trade agreement. On March 29, 1921, the Prime Minister said in the House that “the trade agreement recognizes the Soviet government as the de facto government of Russia, which it undoubtedly is.” But the financiers who gathered in Paris on New Year’s Eve recalled their claims to the Soviets, who did not intend to pay the tsar’s debts. The English Prime Minister quickly came to a formula: Moscow's consent to pay debts and compensation for nationalized enterprises is political recognition. A conference on this matter was scheduled to be held in Genoa. At the Genoa Conference, the British delegation, numbering 100 people, turned out to be the largest. The first meeting opened on April 10 at the San Giorgio Palace. After the speech of the presiding officer, Italian Prime Minister Fact, Lloyd George took the floor. He painted a dramatic picture of an exhausted and disorganized Europe in need of "rest, peace and quiet." The establishment of the desired peace depends entirely on the outcome of the Genoa Conference... At the same meeting, the English Prime Minister acted in the usual role of a conciliator, trying to ensure that the stubborn French delegates abandoned discrimination against Soviet and German representatives when appointing the composition of subcommittees. “We participate in this meeting on the basis of... absolute equality,” said Lloyd George. The conference approved the realistic position he took. On April 11, the Soviet delegation was presented with the text of the “London” memorandum. The Soviet side presented its response. The amount of damage caused to Russia by the intervention was more than twice as much as the debt claims. On the morning of April 14, a discussion of controversial issues began. Lloyd George called the amount of Soviet counterclaims "utterly incomprehensible" and agreed to only minor concessions. The British Prime Minister continued to insist that Russia pay its pre-war debts. However, the Soviet side also did not concede. As a result, the negotiations reached a dead end. At the end of April, Lloyd George made attempts to reach an “oil” agreement with Soviet Russia. He wanted to obtain the right to exploit Caucasian oil. But the Soviet delegation did not agree to this either. The reluctance of the parties to change their position doomed the conference to failure. However, Lloyd George did not lose optimism. He stated that at the Hague Conference “the struggle for peace will continue.” But he did not go to The Hague, leaving the issues of official diplomacy to be resolved. In 1922, Lloyd George's lover Frances Stevenson purchased the Chert estate in Sussex for him. Since 1923, he lived here constantly with Frances, only occasionally coming to the capital. The fall of Lloyd George's coalition government became inevitable after the head of the cabinet was unable to obtain concessions from the Soviets, win a market for British coal in Northern Europe and better competition opportunities for British industrial products in Central Europe, etc. Having received his resignation, Lloyd George traveled to the USA and Canada in 1923. In the USA, the “leader of old Europe” met with President Coolidge, smoked the “peace pipe” with the leaders of Indian tribes, made many speeches... Until the early 1930s, Lloyd George remained the most famous political figure in the West. The former prime minister was confident for a long time that “the country would call him.” In August 1931, MacDonald formed a "national" government. Alas, Lloyd George was seriously ill; his name was not listed in the new office. In November 1931, after early elections and the split of the liberals into three groups, he resigned as leader of the party. Since the late 1920s, David traveled far: to Brazil, Egypt, India and Ceylon, and was treated in Jamaica. In 1932, his health was completely restored. Lloyd George, with the help of a staff of secretaries, wrote memoirs of the war and the post-war settlement. “War Memoirs” brought the author record fees and reader success. In September 1936, Lloyd George visited Germany. He spoke highly of Hitler. And only the Nazi invasion of Spain made him change his mind. Lloyd George criticized Chamberlain's "Munich" course, vigorously advocating rapprochement not only with France, but also with the USSR. During foreign policy debates in March 1939, he called for an agreement with Russia. Last time Lloyd George played significant role V political life On May 8, 1940, when in the House of Commons MPs demanded Chamberlain's resignation. He remained equanimous and spoke of the need for “sacrifice” on the part of everyone. Chamberlain “calls for sacrifice,” Lloyd George exclaimed then, let him “set an example” and resign - “nothing will contribute to victory.” Two days later, Churchill led the new coalition. He invited Lloyd George to join the government. He refused, just as he rejected the offer to become ambassador to the USA... At the beginning of 1941, Lloyd George received news that Margaret, who had long lived in Briccita, was dying. He went to see her, but was late - Maggie was no longer alive... Until 1944, Lloyd George lived in Cherta almost forever. After the German attack on the USSR, he immediately spoke out for the unity of action between England and the Soviet Union. In October 1943, Lloyd George's wedding to Frances Stevenson took place without witnesses. Soon doctors discovered he had a cancerous tumor. The disease progressed quickly... In the autumn of 1944, Lloyd George and his wife moved to a farm near Llanystumdwy. On New Year's Eve he took part in a children's party. The famous speaker Lloyd George, addressing children, was no longer able to put together a few words. He also listened to readings of Dickens's novels, rejoiced at the victories of the Allies, and wanted to make a speech about peace. No longer in the lower house, but in the House of Peers. The longtime enemy of the lords took the title of count... But life was quickly fading away. On March 26, 1945, the “little Welshman” passed away. David Lloyd George was buried on the banks of the River Dwyfor - where he spent his childhood.
David Lloyd George is a famous British politician, the last minister from the Liberal Party. His career developed very rapidly and rapidly. He held a variety of positions in the British government, carried out successful financial reforms, and also played an important role in developing the military strategy that accelerated the successful conclusion of the First World War.
Youth
Lloyd George, whose biography is the subject of this review, was born in 1863 in Manchester in the family of a teacher. His father died when the child was only three years old.
Then the family moved to the village where the mother’s brother lived. The latter played a big role in the development of the future politician, who, upon coming of age, took his surname. The boy graduated from parish school and became a solicitor. The young man dreamed of becoming a lawyer: he had an internship in one of the offices, and also, being very active and active, founded his own firm providing legal services. Lloyd George soon married the daughter of a local wealthy farmer, and was also elected in 1890 to the House of Deputies as a representative of the Liberal Party.
Carier start
The young lawyer soon became famous in Wales for his speeches in defense of nationalists and nonconformists. In the same year, he moved to London, where, thanks to his extraordinary oratorical abilities, he immediately became a Welsh MP. Lloyd George immediately attracted attention with speeches in which he condemned the Anglo-Boer War.
In 1905, the Liberal Party came to power, and the young lawyer was invited to take the post of Minister of Trade. He agreed on two conditions. The future prime minister achieved the expansion of self-government rights for Wales, whose interests he represented, as well as changes to the current education law. Following this, Lloyd George became Secretary of Trade at the age of just 32.
Financial policy
Being a rationalist, he advocated making good use of the resources of the colonies. Having taken the post of Minister of Finance in 1908, the politician proposed his budget, which included increased taxes on luxury and empty land. This project was defeated by the conservatives, whom he sharply criticized, as well as representatives of the bourgeoisie. It was only the following year, when his party won the elections, that the so-called people's budget was finally approved.
Bill 1914
Lloyd George took part in the adoption of this very important document for the history of Ireland. Since the end of the 19th century, a movement for self-government began in the country, which caused fierce controversy in society. The movement aimed to achieve the transformation of the island into a dominion of the empire.
In the 1880-1890s, a corresponding bill was introduced into parliament twice, but each time failed due to pressure from conservatives. In 1912, it was again introduced into parliament, and two years later it was adopted with the proviso that it would be put into effect after the end of the war. This was a very important step by the Liberal government, along with other measures to strengthen the influence of this party in government and society.
Other laws
An interesting question is what reforms of Lloyd George had highest value for the history of Great Britain at the time in question. In addition to the aforementioned bill, it should also be mentioned that the Liberal Party significantly limited the veto power of the House of Lords, which often blocked the adoption of progressive bills.
But even more important were measures in the social sphere: the minister achieved the adoption of a decree on insurance in case of illness, disability or unemployment. It is indicative that these measures, although criticized, came in very handy in difficult times. post-war years, significantly reducing social tension in society.
During the First World War
Great Britain, along with other European countries, also opposed Germany. Lloyd George, who during the Boer War sharply criticized the government for militarism, now, on the contrary, began to call on the country to side with Belgium. These changes in the international arena were reflected in his career. In 1915, a coalition government was created, and he headed the Ministry of Armaments. In this post, he carried out a number of serious measures to strengthen the combat capability of the British army. Thus, it was he who initiated the introduction of universal conscription and also achieved the adoption of this law. Soon he took the post of Minister of Armaments.
The defeat of Romania led to serious changes in political circles. David George championed a cabinet reorganization and became prime minister in 1916. This was the peak of his career: it was during this period of time that the politician enjoyed enormous popularity not only in his homeland, but also in many European countries. The most important step in his new post was that he achieved the decision to create a unified command of the allied forces. However, this plan was implemented only in the spring of 1918.
This measure, as well as the participation of American units, influenced the successful completion of hostilities. Here we should also mention his policy towards Soviet Russia. After the October Revolution, he began to actively advocate for the creation of a buffer zone of a sphere of influence, which should have included the Baltic countries and the Caucasus. It was during his reign that British troops landed in Baku and Arkhangelsk. In addition, he actively advocated support for the White movement during the years Civil War. But two years later he changed the course of his policy and recognized Soviet power, signing a trade agreement with the new government (1920).
After the war
Lloyd George, whose policies allowed him to strengthen his own position among voters in the new elections, became one of the three participants in the signing of the famous Treaty of Versailles in 1919. During the negotiations, he, unlike the other participants, showed compliance.
His success was facilitated by a skillfully orchestrated campaign to convince the British that they were the victors of the war. He organized a demonstration of the troops, which was supposed to be perceived as a victory parade. These measures led to the desired result, and in 1918 the minister formed his second government.
Career changes
However, after some time, dissatisfaction with his rule began to grow in the country. This was due to the poor state of the economy, large budget expenditures, which were attacked by conservatives. But the main reason for Lloyd George's resignation from the post of minister was his foreign policy. His cabinet took a pro-Greek position, but the Turkish army won, which was, in fact, a failure for his ministry. In the fall of 1922, he resigned.
1920-1930s
During the decade under review, Lloyd George was part of the opposition. However, his proposals no longer had the same popularity, largely due to the fact that the positions of the Liberal Party, whose interests he represented, were greatly undermined. However, during the severe economic crisis that erupted in the 1930s, he put forward several useful proposals to eliminate unemployment.
The former prime minister was awarded the title of earl, but refused to continue his political career, not accepting the offer to enter the war cabinet, which was headed by W. Churchill. The famous Peruvian politician owns a number of works, among them memoirs about the war, written in 1933-1936. His book about the peace conference before the signing of the Versailles Document, of which Lloyd George was a participant, deserves special attention. “The Truth about Peace Treaties” is a work that tells about the preparation of negotiations, the course of meetings, in which the author gives his vision of complex political vicissitudes.
The famous politician died in 1945.
LLOYD GEORGE,
David (born 1863), major bourgeois politician in England, liberal. Comes from a petty-bourgeois dissident family; Welshman; born in Manchester. From 1884 he was a jury attorney. He began his political career with participation in the Welsh national movement. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1890. During the Boer War, he gained fame for his decisive speeches against its supporters and actually found himself at the head of a fairly influential bourgeois opposition. When at the end of 1905, in an atmosphere of sharp aggravation of class and international contradictions, the rise of the labor movement and the beginning of the consolidation of the Entente, power passed to the cabinet of both factions of the liberal party (“liberals” and “liberal-imperialists”), headed by Campbell-Vannerman, L. D. received the portfolio of Minister of Trade, and during the reorganization of the cabinet in 1908 by the liberal imperialist Asquith, the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lenin considered the example of the division of labor in this office between the “Lloyd Georges” and the “Asquiths” of liberalism to be especially typical (Lenin, Works, vol. XVI, pp. 321-22). “A well-known liberal charlatan in England. Lloyd George portrays himself, in speeches to the people, as a downright revolutionary and a little bit of a socialist, but in reality this minister follows in politics his leader, Asquith, who is in no way inferior to a conservative,” wrote Lenin in 1913 (Lenin, ibid.). L.D. won the trust of capitalist circles by very skillfully disrupting the railroad strike with the assistance of their leader R. Bell. In an effort to paralyze the leftward movement of the working masses, expressed in the creation and first parliamentary successes of the Labor Party, the English bourgeoisie was forced to carry out a number of demagogically advertised social reforms through the hands of L. D.: the final legalization in 1907 of the right to strike, which was actually abolished in 1900 by reactionary courts; an eight-hour working day for miners (1908), state pensions for the elderly (1908), and most importantly, state insurance for workers against unemployment and illness (1911). In addition, L.D.—partly for demagogic purposes, partly in order to provide England with its own food supply in case of war—put forward a project for agrarian reform. L. D.’s demagogic activity reached its highest intensity during the constitutional crisis of 1909–11, caused by the refusal of the House of Lords to pass the 1909 budget adopted by the House of Commons (see Great Britain, Historical essay). Lenin named L. D. called “Lloyd- Georgeism" a system of "flattery, lies, fraud, juggling with fashionable and popular words, promises left and right of any reforms and any benefits to the workers, if only they would abandon the revolutionary struggle to overthrow the bourgeoisie" (Lenin, Works, vol. XIX, p. 311). IN last years before the war, when the English labor movement began to move to the left, L.D.’s policy began to lose its ground, and then in 1910 he negotiated with the Conservatives on the creation of a “national” government.As the most adroit representative of the English ruling classes, L.D. played a huge role during the war. When the liberal government gave way to a coalition government in May 1915, L.D. became Minister of Equipment and pursued a policy of attacking the proletariat under the pretext of meeting the needs of the war. On July 13, 1916, after Kitchener's death, he also achieved the portfolio of Minister of War. Through behind-the-scenes intrigue. At the end of 1910, the conservatives L.D. overthrew the prime minister, the liberal Asquith, and himself became the head of the “war cabinet” consisting of L.D. himself, two conservatives and one who stood on the extreme chauvinist side. Labor Party Henderson's position. The military cabinet headed by L.D. was endowed with dictatorial powers, and, therefore, following the introduction of universal conscription by the liberal L.D., the highest government body was created on an extra-constitutional basis, pushing aside the rest of the ministers and parliament. L.D. was an extreme advocate of the “knockout war” and achieved the creation of a unified command in the West (Gen. Foch). With repressions and handouts, he stifled the labor movement that was rising again in England, which, under the influence of the Great October Socialist Revolution, had reached a wide scale towards the end of the war and after its end, and he used cruel repressive measures in Ireland, where an uprising took place in April 1910.
At the end of the war, L.D., as a result of a formal break with Asquith’s supporters and after being held under extreme imperialism. slogans of new elections, found himself in an even stronger dependence on the conservatives than during the war and continued to implement the most reactionary policies of the English. imperialism. Along with Clemenceau and Wilson, he played a major role at the Paris Peace Conference, carried out a terrorist regime in Ireland and fought the English labor movement with the help of the Emergency Powers Act. Under him, England became one of the first and most active organizers of intervention against the Great October Socialist Revolution (see Intervention). Under pressure from the English working class, as a result of the enormous scope of the protest movement, L.D. was forced to abandon the policy of open military intervention and, after lengthy negotiations, concluded a peace and trade agreement with Soviet Russia in March 1921. Having failed in his intention to involve Great Britain and its dominions into a new war with Turkey and after the defeat of Greece, which he set against Turkey, L.D. was forced to resign in 1922. His active political the role was played. At the same time, the role of the liberal party was also played. In 1926, however, there followed a reunion of supporters of Asquith and L.D., but already in 1931 a new split followed, when part of the liberals that entered the national government formed an independent group of national liberals led by D. Simon (see). In his “Military Memoirs” (vols. I-IV, Moscow, 1934-35), L. D., sharply criticizing the mediocrity of the English command, portrays himself as the only savior of England during the war and at the same time accepts full responsibility for her. In relation to fascist Germany, L.D. initially took a conciliatory position.
LLOYD GEORGE, David (1863-1945) - English reactionary politician. activist and diplomat, leader of the liberals. In 1890 he was elected to parliament. Occupying the post of Minister of Trade in 1905–08 and Minister of Finance in 1908–15, he played a prominent role in English politics. imperialism, aimed at preparing the world imperialist. war 1914-48. In order to strengthen the position of the English. bourgeoisie L. D. through minor reforms (the law on workers' insurance, carrying out partial reform of the House of Lords, etc.) sought to delay the leftward movement of the working masses and prevent the creation of a militant revolutionary party of the working class.
V.I. Lenin called “Lloyd Georgeism” a system of “flattery, lies, fraud, juggling with fashionable and popular words, promises left and right of any reforms and any benefits to the workers, if only they would abandon the revolutionary struggle to overthrow the bourgeoisie” (Op. ., 4th ed., vol. 23, p. 106).
From 1916 to 22, L. D. was Prime Minister of the coalition government. In the conditions of the First World War, he sought to strengthen the positions of the British in every possible way. imperialism in the Near and Middle East, the Balkans, and the Eastern Mediterranean. L.D. sought to shift the greatest burden of the war onto Russia. L. D. took an active part in the work of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919-20 (see) and was one of the authors of the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919 (see). The government of L. D. brutally dealt with the labor movement in England and the liberation movement in colonial and dependent countries that unfolded under the influence of the Great October Socialist Revolution. He was one of the organizers of the intervention against Soviet Russia and the blockade of the Soviet state, and sought the dismemberment of Russia.
After the defeat of the interventionists by the Soviet people, the government of L.D. tried to strangle the Soviet state through economic means. enslavement, a program that L.D. wanted to implement at the Genoa Conference of 1922 (see), but received a decisive rebuff from the Soviet government.
In conditions of aggravation of Anglo-French imperialism. contradictions after the end of the First World War, the government of L.D. supported Germany against France. It took measures to preserve the germs. imperialism as a striking force for the fight against Soviet Russia and the revolutionary movement in Europe. The balance of power between the United States and England, which had changed in favor of the United States, forced L. D. to make a number of concessions to the United States (establishing parity between the British and American battle fleets, abandoning the alliance treaty with Japan, which was recorded in the decisions of the Washington Conference of 1921–22). L. D. played a large role in organizing the armed Greek army that ended in failure. interventions against Turkey (1919–22). The failure of L.D.'s policies led to the resignation of his government. Despite the decline of the liberal party, L.D. maintained a well-known political position until the end of his life. influence.
After the establishment of the fascist dictatorship in Germany (1933), he expressed his sympathies for Hitler and had a meeting with him. However, later, fearing for the fate of England and the British Empire, L. D. sharply criticized the policies of N. Chamberlain’s government, which led to the breakdown of the Moscow negotiations of 1939 and contributed to the outbreak of the Second World War.
LLOYD GEORGE, David (17.1.1863—26.3.1945) - English. political and state activist, leader of the Liberal Party. L.D. was born into the family of a teacher. First he became a lawyer, and then a professional politician. activist In 1890 he was first elected to parliament. In order to gain popularity among the masses, L.D., an extremely vain and ambitious man, declared himself a radical and a supporter of broad reforms, while acting at the same time in accordance with the fundamental interests of the English. imperialistic bourgeoisie. This explains L.D.’s extreme indiscriminateness in his means and the external inconsistency of his policies. L.D. was a master of compromise, achieving with little help. concessions to achieving your main goal. He was the most striking embodiment of the characteristic English. political life of the system of cynical demagogue. deception of the masses by the bourgeoisie in order to maintain its dominance over them. “I would call this system,” wrote V.I. Lenin, “Lloyd Georgeism,” but after one of the most advanced and dexterous representatives of this system in the classical country of the “bourgeois labor party,” the English minister Lloyd George. A first-class bourgeois businessman and political scoundrel, a popular orator who can say anything, even revolutionary speeches to a working audience, capable of carrying out hefty handouts to obedient workers in the form of social reforms (insurance, etc.), Lloyd George serves the bourgeoisie magnificently and serves it is precisely among the workers, it exerts its influence precisely in the proletariat, where it is most necessary and most difficult to morally subjugate the masses” (Works, vol. 23, p. 106. During the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 L.D. gained fame for his noisy speeches against jingoists (see Jingoism), without, however, putting forward demands for granting independence to the Boer republics and without objecting to their annexation by England.After the liberals L. D. came to power in 1905-08 - the Ministry of Trade and 1908-15 - Min. of Finance In 1909, with great demagogic noise, he passed a “revolutionary” budget, which slightly increased the tax on the empty lands of landlords and at the same time provided for large allocations for naval armaments. During World War I, L.D. advocated bringing the fight against Germany to its decisive defeat. At the end of 1916, through intrigue and collusion with conservatives and at the cost of a split in the Liberal Party, L. D. achieved the fall of the liberal government of Asquith and became prime minister of the coalitions. production (he headed the production until October 1922). L.D. was one of the chapters. participants in the Paris Peace Conference of 1919–20 and one of the creators of imperialism. Treaty of Versailles 1919. With his consent and with his support, W. Churchill organized the armed forces. English interventions imperialism in Russia with the goal of overthrowing Soviet power and dismembering the country. Being more realistic. politician than Churchill, L.D. soon realized the futility and harmfulness of the policy of intervention for England and set a course for establishing relations with Soviet Russia, hoping to return it to capitalism in the future. economical way and political means. The failure of the government's policy in the Middle East, where it organized a war against the national liberation movement. movements in Turkey (see Greco-Turkish War of 1919-22), allowed conservatives in conditions of a temporary decline in class. the struggle in England to remove L.D. from power and create a purely conservative government. After this, L.D., despite desperate maneuvering, was never able to return to power. With Hitler's rise to power in Germany, L.D. tried to flirt with him, believing that the German. Nazism could be a harmless anti-Soviet weapon for England. Convinced, however, of the opposite, he, guided by considerations of the security of England, began to actively advocate for an Anglo-Soviet agreement in order to suppress the Germans. aggression. L.D.'s star has set due to the collapse and fact. leaving political scenes english liberalism.
V. G. Trukhanovsky. Moscow.
LLOYD GEORGE, David (1863-1945) - prominent English politician and diplomat.
In 1890 he was elected to parliament. During the Anglo-Boer War, L. D. became widely known for his decisive actions against the Jingoists (militant English chauvinists), but after the war he did not object to the annexation of the Boer republics by England. L.D. proved himself to be a skilled bourgeois politician, a master of compromises and social handouts (pensions for the elderly, insurance for workers, the “revolutionary budget” of 1909, the agrarian reform project), aimed at preserving and strengthening the capitalist system, paralyzing the leftward movement of the masses, and preventing creation of a revolutionary party of the working class.
The true meaning of L.D.’s demagoguery was perfectly characterized by V.I. Lenin in the article “Imperialism and the Split of Socialism”: “I would call this system Lloyd-Georgism, after one of the most advanced and dexterous representatives of this system in the classical country of “bourgeois workers” Party", English Minister Lloyd George. A first-class bourgeois businessman and political scoundrel, a popular speaker who can make any kind of speech, even revolutionary speeches, before a working audience, capable of carrying out hefty handouts to obedient workers in the form of social reforms (insurance, etc.), Lloyd George serves the bourgeoisie magnificently and serves it precisely among the workers, carries out its influence precisely in the proletariat, where it is most necessary and most difficult to morally subjugate the masses.” (V.I. Lenin. Complete collection of works, vol. 30, p. 176).
During the war of 1914–18, L. D. defended the slogan of bringing the struggle to the complete defeat of Germany. At the end of 1916, L. D. headed the coalition government. He demanded that the center of gravity of British military efforts be transferred from Western Europe to the Middle East, the Balkans, the straits, and the Eastern Mediterranean. As a result, more than 1/3 of the British armed forces found themselves tied up in the Middle East. L.D. was one of the main authors of the Treaty of Versailles.
Dipl. L.D.'s tactics at the Paris Peace Conference boiled down to making the most of the differences and contradictions among his rivals. The basic demands of British imperialism were satisfied, the lion's share of the German colonies and seized territories of the Ottoman Empire went to England. At the same time, the changed balance of power between the United States and England forced L.D., already at the Paris Peace Conference and after it, to make concessions to the United States on a number of cardinal issues.
L.D. headed the British government during the period of anti-Soviet intervention, in which England played an exceptionally large role. He was an ardent enemy of communism and the Soviet state. In a memorandum written by L.D. during the Paris Peace Conference (“Document from Fontainebleau”), he put forward the unification of Soviet Russia with revolutionary Germany as the main danger. His opposition to the Rhine plans of France and especially to Polish territorial demands in the west was determined by the desire to prevent the development of revolution in Germany and to maintain capitalist Germany as a bulwark against Soviet Russia and the revolutionary movement in Europe. The entire Versailles system, thanks in no small degree to the efforts of L.D., was sharpened against the Soviet country.
L.D. provided energetic assistance with weapons and money to the leaders of the White armies - Denikin, Kolchak and Yudenich, made plans to dismember Russia into a number of weak states dependent on England, and sought to impose enslaving agreements on the young Soviet Republic (see Bullitt Mission, Princes' Islands). The victories of the Red Army prompted L.D. to resume contact with representatives of Soviet Russia. L.D. was the initiator of the decision of the Supreme Council of the Allies to lift the blockade of Soviet Russia (January 1920). In May 1920, despite Curzon's opposition, L. D. began negotiations in London on a trade agreement with L. B. Krasin. Odiako suspended these negotiations in July 1920, threatening to send the British fleet to Petrograd if the Red Army did not stop its attack on Warsaw. After the end of the Soviet-Polish war, L. D. resumed the interrupted negotiations, which ultimately led to the conclusion of a Soviet-British trade agreement on June 16, 1921 (see Soviet-British treaties and agreements).
At the Genoa Conference of 1922, L. D. put forward a program for the economic enslavement of the Soviet country, the restoration of capitalism in it and its transformation into an agricultural and raw materials appendage of Western European industry. Seeking to seize strategic positions in the straits and on the territory of Asia Minor, L. D. supported and inspired armed intervention against the Turkish national liberation movement. The failure of this adventure meant the end of L.D.'s career. In October 1922, L.D. was forced to resign.
After the establishment of the fascist dictatorship in Germany, L.D. had a meeting with Hitler in 1935 and then spoke approvingly of him as “the defender of Europe against communism.” However, the intervention of the fascist powers in Spain and their accelerated preparation for the European war radically changed L.D.’s position; he declared himself a supporter of cooperation with the USSR in creating collective defense against aggressors. L.D. sharply criticized Chamberlain's policies, which led to the breakdown of the Moscow negotiations of 1939 and the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1940 he rejected Churchill's offer to join the government.
The most important works of L.D. are “War Memoirs” and “The Truth about Peace Treaties.”
LLOYD GEORGE David (17.1.1863, Manchester, - 26.3.1945, Llanistamdwy, Caernarvonshire), British statesman, leader of the Liberal Party. Born into the family of a school teacher. He practiced law. In 1890 he was first elected to parliament. In an effort to gain popularity among the masses, he declared himself a radical and a supporter of broad reforms, while acting at the same time in accordance with the fundamental interests of the British imperialist bourgeoisie. L.D. was the most striking embodiment of the system of demagogic deception of the masses by the bourgeoisie, characteristic of English political life, in order to maintain its dominance over them. “I would call this system,” wrote V.I. Lenin, “Lloyd-Georgism, after one of the most advanced and dexterous representatives of this system in the classical country of the “bourgeois labor party,” the English minister Lloyd George. A first-class bourgeois businessman and political scoundrel, a popular speaker, able to say anything, even revolutionary speeches to a working audience, capable of carrying out hefty handouts to obedient workers in the form of social reforms (insurance, etc.), Lloyd George serves the bourgeoisie magnificently and serves it precisely among the workers, it carries out its influence precisely in the proletariat, where it is most necessary and most difficult to morally subjugate the masses” (Poln. sobr. soch., 5th ed., vol. 30, p. 176). After the Liberals came to power, L. D. was Minister of Trade from 1905 to 1908 and Minister of Finance from 1908 to 1915. In 1909, with great demagogic noise, he passed a budget that slightly increased the tax on the empty lands of landlords and at the same time provided for large allocations for naval armaments. During World War I (1914–18), he advocated fighting until Germany was decisively defeated. At the end of 1916, through intrigue and collusion with conservatives, at the cost of a split in the Liberal Party, L. D. achieved the fall of Asquith’s liberal government and headed the coalition government (prime minister until October 1922). L. D. was one of the main participants in the Paris Peace Conference of 1919–20 and the creator of the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919. With his consent and with his support, the armed intervention of British imperialism against Soviet Russia was launched. However, soon realizing the futility of such a policy, L.D. set a course for establishing relations with Soviet Russia, hoping to return it to the capitalist path in the future by means of economic and political pressure. The failure of the L. D. government’s policy in the Middle East, where it organized a war against the national liberation movement in Turkey in 1919–20, allowed the conservatives to eliminate L. D. from power and create a purely conservative government. The decline of the Liberal Party led to the decline of L.D.'s political role, although he retained a certain influence in the country until the end of his life. After Hitler came to power in Germany, L.D. believed that German Nazism could be a harmless anti-Soviet weapon for Great Britain. Convinced of the opposite, he began to actively advocate for an Anglo-Soviet agreement in order to suppress German aggression. In 1945 he received the title of count.
V. G. Trukhanovsky.
Volume 15. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1974, p. 584, art. 1738-1739
70 years ago, the famous British politician and diplomat David Lloyd George passed away. He was a member for more than half a century and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. The story of his life is quite instructive for those who are sure that the lack of money and connections is an insurmountable obstacle to success in any field.
Biography of Lloyd George: childhood and youth
The future famous politician was born on January 17, 1863 in Manchester in the family of a teacher from Pembrokeshire. At the age of one, the boy lost his father, and his mother and three children (David’s sisters were 2 and 3 years old) moved to the village of Llanistamdwy, where her brother, a shoemaker, lived. Uncle played a huge role in the lives of the orphans. Therefore, upon becoming an adult, David George added his last name to his - Lloyd.
After graduating from the parish school in Llanistamdwy, the young man passed 3 exams and received the right to hold the position of solicitor. He had an active character and soon founded a law office in Krichit.
At the age of 25, David married the daughter of a wealthy farmer, Maggie Owen, despite the fact that her father did not consider the aspiring lawyer a suitable match for his daughter. However, the marriage added respectability to the young lawyer, and a few months after the marriage he was elected alderman of Caernarvon County. Moreover, after another 2 years, the young man was already a member of the Chamber of Deputies from the Liberal Party.
Work in the Cabinet of Ministers
In 1890, David Lloyd George moved with his family to London. The daring, caustic and witty young man was able to prove himself an excellent speaker and soon became the leader of the Welsh deputies from the Liberal Party.
In 1905, this particular party came to power in Great Britain. Lloyd George was invited to join the government, but he stipulated his participation on two conditions: expansion of self-government for his native Wales and changes to the current education law. His terms were accepted, and at the age of 32, David became British Trade Secretary for the first time.
He was actively interested in issues of rational exploitation of the colonies and was a supporter of the expansion of the empire. In 1908, D. Lloyd George took the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, which was considered the second most important in the British cabinet.
World War I
Even during the years of the Anglo-Boer armed confrontation in Great Britain and abroad, Lloyd George created a reputation for himself as a peacemaker. However, when at the beginning of the First World War, German leaders promised a quick victory, he, speaking at a rally, called on the British to defend the independence of Belgium.
At the end of 1916, D. Lloyd George took over as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and led the coalition government for almost 6 years. The beginning of his reign was simply triumphant, and in those years the politician enjoyed enormous popularity in his country and in many European countries.
End of the war
In the last days before the signing of the armistice, Lloyd George, in his speeches in parliament, did everything to give the British the impression that they were the victors. It is known that the politician even tried to delay the dissemination of information about the cessation of hostilities until his appearance before the deputies.
His tricks were successful, and the press even began to call the prime minister “the organizer of victory.” Moreover, Lloyd George organized a review of troops in London, which his comrades hastened to call a “victory parade,” and invited Clemenceau, Foch and the Italian Prime Minister V. Orlando to this occasion. All this allowed him to stay in his post, and in 1918 he formed a government for the second time.
Policy towards the USSR
In 1918, as prime minister, Lloyd George declared a crusade against the young Soviet state. His goal was to create a “zone of influence” that included the Baltic states and the oil-rich Caucasus. It was under him that the British interventionists landed in Arkhangelsk and Baku. In addition, Lloyd George repeatedly made calls for support. However, by 1920, he took an active part in the preparation and signing of a trade agreement with the USSR, thereby recognizing Soviet power as the de facto government of Russia.
Treaty of Versailles
Many historians consider David Lloyd George to be one of the initiators of the signing by which England received the German colonies and Mesopotamia. As a result, almost 75% of the world's oil resources explored by the year 20 came under the control of this country.
Under Lloyd George, England also consolidated its dominance in Persia, Arabia and Egypt, and also gained Palestine and Iraq.
Retirement and subsequent years
In 1922, Lloyd George's failed. There were several reasons:
- the prime minister was unable to obtain concessions from the USSR;
- no opportunities were created to organize the export of coal to Northern Europe;
- Lloyd George's policy did not lead to the signing of an agreement on preferences for British goods when imported into Central European countries.
After retirement, Lloyd George continued to be active political activity and until the early 30s he remained the most respected political figure in the West. At the same time, he hoped to return to the government. However, when forming a new cabinet in 1931, he was not invited, which was partly due to his serious illness. Moreover, a few months later the Liberal Party split, and Lloyd George refused to lead it.
After a full recovery, the politician began to write “War Memoirs,” which brought him success with readers and huge fees.
The Second World War
During a visit to Germany in 1936, Lloyd George lavished praise on Hitler. However, after the events in Spain, he spoke out in favor of a rapprochement between Great Britain and France and the USSR. When W. Churchill became Prime Minister, he invited the politician to become a member of his government, but Lloyd George rejected both this and the offer to take the post of Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the United States.
At the height of the war, the politician’s wife, with whom he had not lived for a long time, died. He married his longtime mistress Frances Stevenson. Shortly after the wedding, Lloyd George was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor that was rapidly developing.
At the end of his life, the British monarchy highly appreciated his services, awarding him the title of Earl, and on March 26, 1945, David Lloyd George passed away. According to his will, he was buried in the village where he spent his childhood.
Now you know who David Lloyd George was. The biography of this famous statesman still inspires many young people today who strive to reach the heights of their political careers.
British statesman and politician, diplomat. Member of the House of Commons (1890-1945). Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916-1922). Leader of the Liberal Party (1926-1931). He played an important role at the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920) and in the preparation of the Versailles Peace Treaty (1919). Head of the British delegation at the Genoa Conference (1922). He actively supported the idea of creating a collective security system in Europe.
David George was born on January 17, 1863 in Manchester. His father, William, the son of a farmer from South-West Wales, was educated in London and then became a teacher. Returning to his homeland, Pembrokeshire, he rented a plot of land. In 1864, William George died of pneumonia. Mrs. George with three small children (the eldest daughter Mary was not yet three years old) moved to her brother in North Wales, to the village of Llanistamdwy. From that time on, David's fate for several decades was connected with the fate of his uncle, shoemaker Richard Lloyd. In honor of this man, who replaced his father, David adopted the double surname Lloyd George.
He spent his childhood in the village of Llanistamdwy. After graduating from parish school, he passed three exams and received the rights of a solicitor - a solicitor or intercessor in cases. In Crichita, Lloyd George founded his own law office.
In 1888, David married Maggie Owen, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. The chosen one's father did not consider Lloyd George a suitable match, but he managed to insist on his own. In fifty years, the couple will celebrate their golden wedding, although their paths will diverge long before that...
Also in 1888, Lloyd George was elected alderman (elder) of the municipal shire of Caernarvon. His first steps in politics brought him to the Chamber of Deputies (1890). During this period of his activity, the Welsh MP took a place on the left flank of the Liberal Party.
In 1890, Lloyd George settled in London. However, until the beginning of the 20th century, he often came to Wales. David was not even thirty years old when he became one of the leaders of the Welsh nationalists.
Lloyd George still believed that the Palace of Westminster would play a major role in his political career. In 1898, he wrote to his uncle: “I have adopted your motto - the ward first.” Insolence, causticity, the ability to detect weak points in an opponent's motivation, and wit allowed Lloyd George to become a prominent parliamentarian.
When the Liberals came to power in 1905, Lloyd George made his participation in government subject to two conditions: changes to the education law and increased home rule for Wales. On December 12, 32-year-old David crossed the threshold of his Ministry of Commerce for the first time.
In Asquith's government, Lloyd George became Chancellor of the Exchequer (1908). This post was considered the second most important in the British cabinet.
In 1911, Lloyd George turned forty-eight years old. By this time, the “lion’s mane” and “opera” cloak of the Minister of Finance had become a landmark in London. The minister could often be seen at the Covent Garden Opera House. Bernard Shaw, Herbert Wales, the famous playwright J. Barry, G. Irving, Charles Chaplin and other figures of the English intelligentsia visited Lloyd George's house.
In England and abroad, Lloyd George, since the Boer War, has gained a reputation as a supporter of the peaceful resolution of international disputes. The Chancellor of the Exchequer himself diligently promoted this assessment, repeating that he intended to “devote himself entirely to the problems of peace, progress and social reform.”
In early December 1916, Lloyd George became Prime Minister of Great Britain. This "dynamic politician" headed the coalition government until October 1922. Lloyd George's portrait is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Portrait of Lloyd George
Lloyd George can be considered the creator of the "summit" system of meetings. In 1920-1922, with the active participation of the British Prime Minister, more than 30 international conferences and meetings were held. On his initiative, many of them were convened in the most picturesque corners of Europe.
Since the late 1920s, David traveled far: to Brazil, Egypt, India and Ceylon, and was treated in Jamaica. In 1932, his health was completely restored. Lloyd George, with the help of a staff of secretaries, wrote memoirs of the war and the post-war settlement. “War Memoirs” brought the author record fees and reader success.
The last time Lloyd George played a significant role in political life was on May 8, 1940, when MPs demanded Chamberlain's resignation in the House of Commons. He remained calm and spoke about the need for “sacrifice” on the part of everyone. Chamberlain “calls for sacrifice,” Lloyd George exclaimed then, let him “set an example” and resign - “nothing will contribute to victory.”
Two days later, Churchill led the new coalition. He invited Lloyd George to join the government. He refused, just as he rejected the offer to become ambassador to the United States...
Early in 1941, Lloyd George received news that Margaret, who had long lived in Briccita, was dying. He went to see her, but was too late - Maggie was no longer alive...
Until 1944, Lloyd George lived almost continuously in Cherta. After the German attack on the USSR, he immediately spoke out for the unity of action between England and the Soviet Union.
In October 1943, Lloyd George's wedding to Frances Stevenson took place without witnesses. Soon doctors discovered he had a cancerous tumor. The disease progressed quickly... In the autumn of 1944, Lloyd George and his wife moved to a farm near Llanystumdwy. On New Year's Eve he took part in a children's party. The famous speaker Lloyd George, addressing children, was no longer able to put together a few words. He also listened to readings of Dickens's novels, rejoiced at the victories of the Allies, and wanted to make a speech about peace. No longer in the lower house, but in the House of Peers. The longtime enemy of the lords took the title of count... But life was quickly fading away. On March 26, 1945, the “little Welshman” passed away. David Lloyd George was buried on the banks of the River Dwyfor - where he spent his childhood.