Evening star., 1922-10-29

Germany Germany already threat
ened with disunion-a new state
formed out of the southern states
with consequent reputation of all
obligations contracted under the
present governmenD.
AS Lloyd George spoke he seemed
to win much approval, as shown by
the Cheers" while only once or twice
was opposition shown. He spoke
easily. swinging one leg in a boyish
way as he leaned against the table.
Even-voiced, calm, wary, never un-
mindful for a minute that he and the
exchequer of the treasury were to 81;
in conference on the following Mon
day. (He predicted that nothing
would come of that conference, as
events proved.) The most patriotic
sentence In his whole speech de-
clared: when we meet on Monday, /
shall. as / have done all through, re-
sist any proposals which will simply
have the effect of increasing the dis
integration of Europe without secur-
ing anything for ourselves. 1 object
to anybody's saying that this trouble
has to be settled at the expense of
Britain
WHEN the premiar had sat down.
w Sir Godfrey Collins tore the
speech into shreds. and Lloyd George
interrupted him but once.
Asquith argued that Britain should
cancel all the debts her allies owe her
and her share of the reparations from
Germany and that the reparations due
from Germany to the allies should be
scaled down. 1The treaty of Versailles
provides for this scaling down when
conditions merit such an act) AsGuitn
thinks the Balfour note inopportune
and impolitic. The prime minister
crossed swords with AsQuith, but
Asquith held his own.
From the labor benches was sound
ed a bit of chivalry that never fails
to reach the British heart: ENGLAND
must remember to be as generous to
a defeated enemy as she was coura-
geous.'
More than one member approved
Americas refusal to have anything to
do with insane Europe except in so
far as she made suggestions regard
ing the recovery of sanity. England
was advised to emulate America in
this particular. And America was as
sured that England would honor her
! bond" with her.
During the debates members came
and went and communications were
made to representatives through the
speaker. Twilight turned to dark
| ness, and the house was marvelously
well lighted by reflected light from
the ceiling. Tea was served down.
stairs to any one who desired il. The
house adjourned a few minutes before
midnight.
AS one listened to the wide diver
sity of opinions from these men of
recognized brains one came to un-
derstand how hopeless of solution are
the problems of Europe at the hands
of men until selfish interests are for
gotten and bitter animosities are
healed by the oblivion that time alone
brings. And one saw, too, how tre-
mendous are the burdens from taxes
alone The British deot per ..ad III
population is flS1. that of France Is
fl62 and of America f47 Those fig
ures show what war has done to Eu-
rope more clearly than an evenings
lecture upon the subject
Cabinets come and cabinets go, but
| the world will long remember that
coalition group of men that the whim-
sical, canny, resourceful little Welsh
man held together so far past the!-
natural time of dissolving. or late
| his craftsmanship has been marked
by unusual daring and unexpected
| ness. and in both qualities there is a
! magic that disarms resistance and
| opposition. A greater may succeed
! him. but a lesser surely in terms of
| romance.
| 1t was drizzling when l left the
| house. but in my mind it was fair
| weather. lighted with the golden
lights of the house of commons in
session and vocal with the sound of
voices that had shaped history at the
dawn of a new civilization.