New-York tribune., 1922-11-06
Conservatives
Seek Alliance
With Asquith
Move to Make Ex.Premier
Lord Chancellor and
Viscount Grey Foreign
Secretary Is Reported
From Tho rrsoune's Europcan Bureau

LONDON, Nov 5.-With 1886 candi-
dates nominated to fill 55s contested
seats in Parliament, the noise of the
electoral battle here will rise crescendo
from now until the votes are counted,
week from Wednesday.
Although Lloyd Georges threat to
flood the constituencies with last-hour
candidates has not materialized, the
enigmaS'c personality Of the WeIshman
still dominates the political situation.
1t was reported to-day that he has
chartered a special train for nation
wide speaking tour the coming week,
following the American Presidential
methods. 1t is said that he will be ac
companied by Lord Birkenhead, and
that he will make ten-minute speeches
up and down the country in true whirl-
wind fashion.
Conservatives Are Uneasy
While it is generally believed that
the former Premier will have only a
handful of followers in the next Parlia-
ment, the reaction to his campaign on
the other parties can be seen in two
directions. In the first place, the Con-
servatives are so uneasy over his posi-
tion that they have been making over
lures to the Asquith Liberals for some
sort of working agreement should they
fail to win clear majority. That AS
quith would 60 to the House of Lords,
becoming Lord Chancellor, and Vis-,
count Grey, whose recent speeches have
made great impression on the coun-,
try, would succeed the Marquis of Cur
zon as Foreign Minister, the latter re-
firing with dukedom, are possibilities
that are being canvassed in the event
that the Conservatives get Independent
Liberal support.
Mr.. Asouith himself has shown indif-
ference to this proposal. Last Friday
he said: II would not in any circum-
stance join the government if the con-
dition of my adhesion were subservi-
ence or even suspension of my Liberal
convictions" At the same time the
fact that he made this statement is re-
garded as proof that the Conservatives
have made overtures to him.
Another development in the situation
is the rapid headway that is being made
by the movement looking to reunion
of the Liberals. This is rank and file
movement which was started without
encouragement either from the Lloyd
George headquarters or from the
Asquith camp, but it is growing so
strong that it is not likely that the
leaders of the two wings will be able
to resist it.
Asquith and Grey Favor Reunion
Both Asquith and Lord Grey favor
Liberal reunion, but they are unwilling
to let Lloyd George dominate it--at
least to the extent he did when he was
Premier. 1t is not certain, however,
that the movement will develope
the election. The Asquith Liberals,
whom the Rothermere newspapers are
still backing, are bound to make the
best showing at the polls in proportion
to their numbers, and reunited Lib
eral party may be the real Center party
of the next Parliament, holding the bal
ance of power between the Conserva-
tives and the Laborites.
The Conservatives are hoping to get
clear majority of about thirty, but
their margin probably will be smaller
or even wholly non-existent. The size
of the Conservative vote depends upon
the number of the veters they may
be able to swing from the Laborites.
Estimates Of the Labor party
strength are slumping as fast as the
German mark, and it is now generally
conceded that the party will not have
more than 150 seats in the new Parlia-
ment The rate premium quoted by
underwriters cover the risk of the
Laborites coming into power is eQuiva-
lent to 20 to l.