The New York herald., 1920-01-26
Fate aad the Big Four.

4 conversation between David Lloyd
George and the French Deputy reported
in Paris newspaper. in which the British
Premier was described AZ thinking aloud
on the subject of the i'll luck that the
Paris peace treaty had brought 10 all
. those who had to do with it, may be
outhentic or it may not Bat il must be
admitted that II the statesman did not
gay it he ought to have said it. and if he
did say it he was only telling the truth.
1t is perfectly obyiou,, that countless
thousands Of persons in America. the
British Empire France. Italy. il face al
over the world. must have reflected oi.
the curious fact that as the Deputy
pointed out. Nittorio Orlando Is out %
office and DR.. Cltmcnccau Is in private
life. while President Wilson has met with
yeverses" at Washington, 20 that the little
Wclshman ~ the sole survivor Of the
famous four 20 remain closely associated
with European affairs at the present mo
ment.
So far SO good Rut when tie French
politician was reported a. saying. only
YOU are spared" and the British Prime
Minister was reported in tara rs reply
i'm. yes and in less than six months 1t
viii be my turn. any body who knows any
thing even at tenth hand - about the
character OF David Lloyd George will be-
gin to have his doubts.
Even if it be true that Great Britain.
like the rest of the world, is suffering
from post-bellum reaction, it is impossible
To- believe that the Premier could have
50 far forgotten his own belief in his
Napolconic star as to have volunteered
such an admission. On the contrary, it
is more than probable that he finds it
perfectly natural to be in condition Of
splendid isolation whereas he was for
rcrly only one of a group, and not even
the leader Of that.
Belonging to a Celtic race. Mr.. Lloyd
George is n fatalst. There has been
nothing in his mctcoric career to shake
that belief. 4 hated pacifist at the time
Of the Bccr War. be was to be the William
l'itt the Younger Of what our navy calls
Inc Worlds War" 4 Socialist ccono-
mically and politically. he was destined to
make his start as a Liberal. then to de-
stroy the old Liberal party and finally TO
rack the whip Of irresponsible authority
over Tory Cabinet. Having demonstrated
hat Mr.. Asquith lacked the courage to do
anything which endangered his coutinu-
aucc in power, Mr.. Lloyd George stepped
into his place and is now rs cautious
about estrangipg his curious crowd OF
supporters As If his hahitual reading for
tho last three years had been Tho Prince
of Macchiavclli iirstcad Of everything by
or about Abraham Lincoln" as he admits.
So even with tho figure of Arthur Hen
derson looming larger and larger on the
horizon. with the Labor Socialists grow
ing stronger and stronger at every bye
election, he probably thinks that if every
thing else fails the moderate men of
England. who once hated his income tax
schemes and his insurance laws, may turn
to him as their savior.
If he were a cynic-which he is not
because he is an optimistic sentimentalist
he might reflect on the House Of Lords
as his final safe place of refuge. II will
be the Kings customary duty to offer hin,
an earldom when he quits the Premier.
ship. There have been strange and
uuaint additions to that obsolete legisla.
tive chamber. But IL would not be sur
prising if the skylight blew up should the
former David Lloyd George, arrayed in ali
the petticoats Of his new rank, advance
TO the Woolsack to be sworn in as Lord
Of Parliament.