The New York herald., 1920-01-27
MAY NOT ENFORCE
!. TREATY PENALTIES
British. Premier Reported Con
WINGED of Futility of
IL II IS Trying to-Do SO. !,
{ (spccialsca5le to the HeraldJ

- (SpccidICdble to the Hcrdldj
LONDON, Monday.-A report that Pre-
mier Lloyd George has become convinced
of the futility of attempting to enforce the
penalty clauses of the peace treaty, which
appears in the Westminster Gazette. typi-
flies the growing sentiment here that it is
too late to put the former Kaiser on trial.
A furthev report that the Prime Minister
is ready to aid in the re-establishment of
Central Europe through loan to Germany
and the restoration of credit and exchange
so as to make available the supplies of
German material, emphasizes that the
British are turning away from war issues
and that situation which makes uncer-
tain the entire domestic political outlook
is threatening the overthrow of Lloyd
George as similar conditions did Clemen-
ceau and Orlando.
The Welsh Wizard has postponed the
crisis until he is able to take stand
with the best chances of success on the
peace question about which British politics
henceforth will revolve. He is pursuing
this policy and has permitted former
Premier Asquith, potentially his most
powerful opponent, to enter the Paisley
bye-election with no gov
ernment opponent. Paisley, in fact. rep
resents kind of preliminary heat to show
which of the three forces of British poll
tics-Labor. the old Liberals or the Union
ists--is now the most powerful. The re-
suit is expected to affect largely Lloyd
Georges choice of the band wagon upon
which he will climb when the war issues
fuel gives out and coalition breaks down.
The last general election was fought in
the heat OF war passions, Lloyd George
winning on Hang the Kaiser" and similar
cries. Hence the significance of the re-
port of a shift in accord with the obvious
popular lack of interest. Two questions
only are interesting all Great Britain. The
first is the demand of radical labor for
naturalization Of the mines and other
paternalistic schemes. The second is the
future of British foreign trade.
First Postwar Platform.
Neither of these questions is included In
any prc-war platform of the older parties,
.tsquith's speech tonight affording the
FIRST outline of the any post-part plat
form and possibly defining the issues
upon which Lloyd George ultimately will
fight him for future control of the gov
crnment, it being inconceivable to most
British minds that Asquith and Lloyd
George will be found again in the same
political bed
Carrying out his policy of watchful
waiting, Premier Lloyd George even has
succeeded in pursuadng the miners not
to bring up the question of nationaliza-
ton when ne confers with them on
Wednesday. combining the conference to a
discussion OF whether the huge profits of
The expotr trade should be devoted to an
increase OF wages or to increasing pro-
duction, lowering the price OF domestic
coal an dtnus lowering the cost OF liv-
ins.
His success in this respect is indicative
of a weakening of labor radicalism. 1t Is
an open secret that the organization which
Is workngfor nationalism andbackingthe
Daily Herald, of London, Is starving for
lack of funds and popular support OF labor.
Nevertheless the Paisley by-election Is
likely TO show d possibility of a labor
government through the defeat Of Asquith
|by a labor candidate. There is every pros-
pect that such n government would be
toned down by the support OF the clerk
class, the 'new poor III this happens to
be most likely, Lloyd George will jump
that way; 1t would be the shortest jump
from the old politicical policies
Every party In england in the last few
weeks has claimed Lloyd George as a
convert to it's views. and as the future
leader. but the Premier tells his plans to
no man. noe even the members of his own
Cabinet If Lloyd George could govern
with the Unionists. he would take Lord
Birkcnhead and Winsted Churchill with
him, the latter being too powerful and too
dangerous n critic to be left In opposition.
II he should cast his fortune with the
Laborites, Birkenhead and Churchill
would be active in opposition as leaders
either of the Unionists or the new Ma
tionaI marty, foreshadowed recently in
Lord Northcliffe's weekly despatch.