The New York herald., 1921-10-15
FOES FAIL TO SCARE
BRITAIN'S PREMIER
New Forces of Opposition
Not Regarded as Threat
to His Government.
SAFE ON IRISH ISSUE
Unworried Over the Reen-
trance of ViscOunt Grey
Into Politics.
ASQUITH ALSO SUBDUED
Activity Of 'Wee Free Liberals
Hit by Lloyd Georges Acts
Lord Cecil Watched.
AsQUITH ALSO sUBDUED
Special Cable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
CcpN-ioht, 1921. bu THE New YoRK HERALD.

New York Herald Bureau
London, Oct. IA.
Fresh forces of opposition are again
striving to rise up against David Lloyd
George, but from present indications
they do not constitute any serious
threat to his government. The three
new factors which face him on the
opening of Parliament on Tuesday are
Viscount Grey's reentrance into quasi
active politics, Lord Robert Cecirs lin
ing up with Lord Grey and the West
minister Gazette entering the London
morning newspaper field with, reput-
edly, heavy financial backing from the
free trade Free Liberals.
According to reports from Downing
Street. however, neither the little
Welsh wizard nor his astute political
advisers are seriously worried over the
outlook. They do not see in any OF
these three factors anything indicat-
ing a development of strength in an
opposition which has fallen very close
to zero.
Herbert II. Asquith's leadership OF the
"Wee Free" Liberals probably will not
~ake on more than a titular rorm In the
face Of the new combination. On the
other hand Lord Grey's sarldom re-
moved him from the House Of Commons.
and it is expected that he will be no
more active than hitherto on account Of
the state Of his health.
Two New Leaders Appear.
Likewise Lord Robert Cecil is not con-
sidered as having the cool temper re-
quired for tader who mist often face
Mr.. Lloyd Georges poisoned darts of
sarcasm across the floor Of the House Of
Commons.
Mr.. Asquith probably will continue to
appear as the head and front Of the op-
position bench on great occasions. but
the actua. burden of leadership will fall
on the shoulders of Sir John Simon and
Sir Donald Maciean. as. hitherto, on the
floor of the House OF Commons, while
Cuch men as Reginald McKenna, Sir
George Paish. Lord Mersey and other
tig midland and northern industrialists
are interested in free trade and the re-
habilitation Of Germany at the expense
OF the Versailles treaty II necessary. In
fact this policy Is the backbone of the
new party development.
But once more it seems as II Mr..
Lloyd Georges agility has enabled him
to steal pretty good share of his pros
prctive opponents thunder, even before
they have prepared to launch their
thunderbolts. The Wee Free" Liberals
tried hard to revive their party on the
Irish issue, but only succeeded in driv-
ing Mr.. Lloyd George into efforts to
reach an Irish settlement far more gen.
erous than anything they had proposed.
There Is an unauthenticated story cur
rent that Mr.. Lloyd George called Mr..
Asquith into his room in the House of
Commons before he sent his first mes
sage to Eamon de Valera, Irish Repub-
lican leader, and laid the whole plan
before him. and Mr. Asquith was so
astonished at the lengths the Prime Min
lister had gone that Mr.. Lloyd George
was able to exact a promise from him
that he would not do anything tending
to wreck the plan.
Premier Blocks Moves.
II the reflection in official circles
brought out by the Upper Silesian de-
cison by the Council Of the League of
Nations is any criterion of the way Mr..
Lloyd Georges Government is tending
now. the Wee Free" Liberals find little
party food in trying to further Ger
many's side In the European economic
questions. Mr.. Lloyd George seems will
ing to go to any lengths short of an
actual rupture of the Entente, and even
the most sanguine Wee Free" Liberals
would hardly relish going beyond that.
Probably the main strength of the new
Opposition centres. however, around pre-
venting an extension Of the anti-dump
ing o4I, passed at the last session of
Parliament into general protective
measure. and efforts TO break down its
provisions wherever possible. With un-
employment at it's present stage this.
too. Is likely to be an extremely un-
popular plank.
Despite the apparent strengthening of
the Opposition talk of a general elec-
tion this fall has died away completely,
and intention OF Lloyd George to go to
Washington indicates there are no signs
OF a storm seen from the navigating
bridge of the ship of state.
Reginald McKenna is credited with
having a large share OF the plan to
make the Westn,instcr Gazette a morn
ing newspaper. He is reported to have
found q very considerable sum for a
long period OF publication at loss
that is sure to be involved. IL was run
at a considerable loss as a small evening
newspaper. but II Is reported II is now
planned to make II a great twenty page
newspaper, like the London Times and
the Telegraph, with its own special SER
vices. sc.
Does Not Fear Lord Robert.
But perhaps the most interesting OF
nil three of these developments was the
swing of Lord Robert Cecil into the
ranks of the WEE Free" Liberals.
Hitherto every political tag that could
possibly attach to a man OF his blood.
training and personal character has
been attached to him. He has been
Tory. although politically he has been
Liberal In such things as the League
OF Nations. He broke with Mr.. Lloyd
George and crossed the floor OF the
House Of Commons into the bench OF
the Opposition over the Governments
1nsistence on naming members Of the
Government as League of Nations dele
gates.
with the Opposition as n party muz-
yied on Ireland. when Parliament recon
vencs Mr.. Lloyd George will have only
20 refuse to answer or to evade individ-
ual questions, with no likelihood of any
division being forced. ,.
with nothing else looming large on the
political horizon II Is expected that the
session OF Parliament will be extremely
short. particularly. since. all the members
have been sitting almost continuously
for two years and are anxious TO pans
more time among their constituencies.