New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-02-13
Lloyd George
Faces SeVerest
Test of Career
Premier This Week Must
Handle Irish and Other
Questions at Home and
Deal With War Problems
Parliament to Open
Worlds Attitude Is Wash
ington and London Will
Settle All Questions
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Tribuncs European Bureau
Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Feb 12.-Beginning on
Tuesday, with the opening Of Parlia-
ment, Premier Lloyd George enters
upon one of the most trying months
since the end Of the war. The degree
of success he will attain in the next
four weeks will decide the question Of
the position of the present government
for the next year. The Cabinet has
settled upon Parliamentary program
and the King has completed the draft
of his speech 1t will refer undoubted-
ly to the Paris reparations agreement,
the setting up of Irish parliaments, un-
employment and protective tariff meas
ures.
Lord Robert Cecil will be found sit
ting with the Opposition, and some of
his Parliamentary colleagues will move
over to the other side Of the House
on Tuesday. Thus at the very outset
of the session Lloyd George faces the
strongest political opposition since the
general election.
Wife on the Stump
At the end of the week bi-election
will be fought in Wales between Ernes st
Evans, the Premiers' former secretary,
and Llewellyn Williams. who has the
Endorsement of the local Liberal oppo-
sition. The Premier considers the cleo
ton Of vital Importance to his political
future, and has made strong appeal
for the support of Evans. while Mrs.
II :,
half of the candidate The defeat of
Evans would be the final blow to Lloyd
Georges claim to the leadership of the
Liberals, and might force him into the
ranks of the Conservatives.
These developments are of interest
because they will have a profound
effect upon the governments foreign
policies. A week from Monday is the
date set for the opening of the Lon
don conference on Near Eastern affairs,
but probably it will be delayed until
the Angora government has decided
about the. sending of delegates. Post
February %, when the German dele
gates also will be here for the confer
ence on reparations. Mustapha Renal
is expected here in person, and though
the British cannot recognize him Of
ficially, he certainly will have hear
ing when the Treaty of Sevres is under
consideration.
Something of the gigantic task be-
fore Lloyd George may be understood
when it is realized that he will have to
handle the strong group in Commons
that is violently opposed to his Irish
policy and highly critical Of the gov
ernment's attitude on unemploymen emf
and at the same time meet the bitter
German antagonists and dissatisfied
delegates from Italy and Turkey II
will be his supreme test as peacsmaker
and mpromiser-greater eveass than
the task he had when sitting. with
President Wilson and Premier Glenn en-
ceau, for at that time the domestic
political situation was quiet.
All Eyes on Harding
In the midst of the conferences, here
will come the Washington inauguration
and the new Presidents speech, which
will be read on this side with an in
terest almost as great as in America
The whole Of Europe FRANCE
England, Italy, Russia -. awaits Mr.
Harding's utterances on Americas for
eign policy. After eight years of Demo.
cratic administration, six of which
were filled with world shaking develop.