New-York tribune., 1918-05-11
Lloyd Georges Victory

There is no mistaking the fact that the
victory of Lloyd George in the House of
Commons is popular victory in Amer
lea. This is due to the fact that, rightly
or wrongly, American public opinion has
become convinced that Lloyd George rep
resents in Great Britain the same deter
mination to win the war that Clemen-
ceau embodies in France, and that the
fall Of Lloyd George now would be dis
advantageous to the Allied cause.
1t is well recognized in this country
that Mr.. Asquith as Prime Minister and
public man has been consistent friend
of the United States; that Sir Edward
Grey, Lord Haldane and others of the
more conspicuous of his supporters have
been at all times friendly to America
and considerate of American interests.
But this does not and cannot change the
fact that victory for Mr. Asquith to-
day would, justly or unjustly, create in
this country something of the consterna-
tion which would in England follow the
return to office of Mr.. Bryan. In France
and in the United States the decision of
the House of Commons will be hailed as
one giving promise of renewed prose-
cution of the war with the utmost vigor,
and a preservation of that unity of COM
mand and closeness of relations between
the Allies which represent the recent
achievement of the British Prime Minis
ter, working in cooperation and sympa-
thy with President Wilson and Premier
Clemenceau.
Looking now at the purely British as
poets of the decision in the House Of
Commons on Thursday it would seem
that the overwhelming vote for the
Prime Minister represented first of all
the conviction that it was unwise at this
time to change leaders and that it was
undesirable, despite the limitations of
the present Prime Minister as disclosed
IN his recent record, to return to the
regime of his predecessor. 1t NAV or
may not have been victory for Lloyd
George, although at this distance it
seems a brilliant personal triumph, but
1t was Enthusiastically defeat for Mr..
Asquith.
1t would seem that the former Primo
Minister was in a measure, trapped
His decision to champion General
Maurice was apparently based on an in
accurate notion of the weapons which
could be placed at his disposal. When
he had committed himself to the strug-
gle the Prime Minister cleverly, adroit
iy, accepted the issue and forced his old
opponent into the position of attacking
Che government at critical moment in
the history of the Empire on trivial
charges made by disgruntled and par
TALLY discredited general. There are
certain paragraphs in the Prime Min
'ster's explanation which do not wholly
explain and suggest lights and shadows
rather than clear daylight But, on the
whole. the answer is complete and was
accepted by the House of Commons as
adequate and satisfactory
1t would be rash to attempt to fore
cast 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 weak
ened. The plea of the Prime Minister
Tor an end of sniping at moment when
terrible German attack was to begin
was a legitimate plea that will have
great weight abroad as we'll as at home.
change of Cabinet at this time. par
ucularly the return of Mr.. Asquith, sup
ported by Lord Lansdowne and by Mr..
Henderson, would unmistakably shake
the confidence of a portion of the Amer
acan and OF the French people, and there
is no Disgusting the fact that the victory
OF the Prime Minister will be popular
noth IN France and in our own country
IL is unfortunate that the differences
OF opinion between the French and the
oritish on the question of the extension
OF the british line had to be aired in the
House OF Commons. 1t is more unfort-
innate because these differences seem tn
nave been loyalty and completely adiust-
ga between the commanders in chief Of
the two armies. Once more. as so f,e-
auently IN this war, Great Britain ba,
generously and readily complied with a
reasonable request of her allv. and tho
compliance, which was greatly TO tb.
credit of the British, was a thing of Tho
past before this controversy arose The
whole incident might turn to German
advantage it it left any permanent scar.
But it can not and will not leave any
scar
After all, we--Britain, France anu
America--are democracies. We have to
go before the public and to the people