Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-11
LLOYD GEORGES VICTORY
is POPULAR IN AMERICA
Prime Minister Endorsement Gives Promise
of Renewed Prosecution of War With
Vigor, Is Writer'S View.

this time to change leaders, and that it
was undesirable, despite the limitations
of the present prime minister as dis
closed in his recent record, to return
to the regime of his predecessor. 1t
may or may not have. been a victory
for Lloyd George. although at this dis
tance 1t seems brilliant personal tri-
umph, but 1t was Enthusiastically a de-
feat for Mr.. ASquith. .
Prime Minister Trapped"
1t would seem that the former prime
minister was in a measure trapped.
His decision to champion Gen. Maurice
was apparently based on an inaccurate
notion OF the weapons which could be
placed at his disposal. When he had
committed himself to the struggle the
prime minister cleverly, adroitly, ac-
cepted the Issue and forced his old
opponent into the position of attack
ing the government at a critical mo-
ment in the history of the empire on
trivial charges made by a disgruntled
and partially discredited general
There are certain paragraphs in the
prime minister's explanation which do
not wholly explain. and suggest lights
and shadows rather than clear day
light: but on the whole the answer is
complete and was accepted by the house
tory.
1t would be rash>to attempt to fore
cast a long period of power for Lloyd
George on the strength of his victory
OF THURSDAY. On the other hand. for
the time being the opposition has been
weakened. The plea of the prime min
lister for an end of "sniping" at a mo-
ment when a terrible German attack
was to begin was a legitimate plea.
that will have great weight abroad as
at this time-particularly the return
Of Mr.. Asquith, supported by Lord
Lansdowne and by Mr.. Henderson,
would Enthusiastically shake the conf
Of the French people: and there is no
Disgusting the fact that the victory of
the prime minister will be popular
both in France and in our own country.
Unfortunate "Airing.,
1t is unfortunate that the difference
Of opinion between the French and tie
British on the question of the extension
of the British line had to be aired in
the house OF commons. 1t is more un-
fortunate because these differences
seem to have been loyalty and com
ers-in-chief of the two armies. Once
more. as so frequently in this war, Great
Britain has generously and readily
complied with reasonable request of
her ally, and the compliance. which was
greatly to the credit of the British was
a thing of the past before this con-
troversy arose.
The whole incident might. turn to
German advantage if it left any per-
manent scar. But it cannot and will
not leave any scar.
After all, we-Britain, France and
America-are democracies. We have
to go before the public and to the peo-
pie from time to time to explain things
that it would be pleasanter to. avoid
explaining. 1t is an inherent weakness
in democracies in time of war, but it is
no less an element of strength in
times of peace and a guarantee of
safety at all times. 1t is one of. the
prices we pay for our form Of govern
ment, and we have to pay it.
Wac Program Unshaken.
The resolution of the British people
to pursue this war to victory is dis.
closed in the result in the house of
commons as unshaken either by politi-
cal dispute at home or by military de-
feat abroad. The spirit of Britain re-
mains precisely what it was, and what
British history would give the world
the right to expect.
The spirit of France has been dis
closed in the rally to Clemenceau. The
Italian situation has much improved in
the past months. There is no cause for
pessimism or permanent regret over
the recent British political crisis.
If the crisis was in itself annoying
If not disturbing, the solution has been
satisfactory, and we, in America, who
had no right to partisanship during the
crisis. may perhaps be forgiven an ex-
preston of satisfaction at the way in
which it has worked out.
Copyright, 1918, the Tribune Associa-
ton, New York Tribune)