The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-17


III Lloyd George, OF whom It 10 cur
rently said by his colleagues in Paris
that while he is able to read and write
he does neither, had studied an excellent
memorandum proposed month ago for
the enlightenment Of the Allied delega-
lions by Polish and Czecho- Slovak ex-
perts he would know that the question
Of Teschen is in it's way es important as
that of the Saar Valley Basin. Had ne
further consulted the columns OF the
Times OF years gone by he might have
learned Of the great properties formerly
possessed In Teschen by Archduke Fred
erick. the wealthiest OF the Austro-H Hun
earian archdukes and their sale to a
great ornaments firm.
But he apparently cares for none Of
these things. Strong In his Ignorance
Of other aspects Of the Polish question
that are at least indirectly clear with
Teschen he made bold to reject the
una nimous report OF the conference ex-
perts on Poland. and went far by his
attitude to weaken the spirit of the 4'o-
lish people in their struggle against Boil
shevisn. Now he has learned from Pre-
mier Psderewski that the Poles are
anti Bolshevist. Did he not know /,
before his treatment OF the Dansig ques-
ton rendered NJ Padsrewskfs gallant
fight against Boishevism almost hopeless
The truth In Parliamentary poll
ticians like Lloyd George ought not to
have wasted weeks at the beginning OF
the conference by setting themselves up
at Quai d'Orsay as sort Of primary
school receiving elementary Instructions
in European politics and geography In
stead OF appointing at the outset expert
commissions to solves political and geo.
graphical problems in the light Of the
lYia tpO N..t,t
the conference leaders were alone COM
petent to lay down.
Toward the end NJ his erratic pro-
do1no sua the British Primo Minister
alluded to the pleasure he had felt
when the English way OF doing this
was praised at the recent session OF the
corferenoe,
What sort Of a thrill will his coll
leagues in Paris feel when they read
OF his performance yesterday with It's
half truths. palliations, Its suppression
and suggss-falsi, it's false apologies and
cheap rhetorical effects?
They will note without amusement
his evident care OF his political position,
his obvious desire not to give the House
OF Commons any trustworthy material
upon which TO Judge him before the
terms OF peace have been communicated
10 the enemy. They will note the entire
absence OF any determination OH his
part TO deal promptly and vigorously
with the enemy In case the peace terms
be rejected, they will also note his irate
philippic against this journal. and on this
point We are not concerned TO answer
him beyond stating that at no point In
his speech were his statements less ac-
curate and less worthy.
Our readers who know the tradition
OF the Times will not expect ue TO COM
pete with the Prime Minister in 'parlia-
mentary style The record OF this Jour
nal during the crisis that preceded the
war will bear closer examination than
that OF Lloyd George Its record
during the war is known.
Some points in his war record
may require 20 be more fully known
when a public service can be rendered
by making them known and by showing
that II the allied peoples are now within
sight OF tolerable peace It Ia in part
at least because Lloyd George has had
at some critical moments A bad press
That time 'is not yet. Meanwhile the
Times will continue undeviatingly TO
pursue lite course OF national service,
looking neither 20 the right nor the left
striving to correct popular misapprehen-
sions OF Ministerial ignorance, respect-
ing no persons. being subservient to
none and maintaining by honest, fear
less publicity what II conceives to be the
highest traditions of British Journal
ISM"