New-York tribune., 1922-05-19
Lloyd George
Faces Serious
Crisis at Home
london Speculates on How
He Will Account for His
Failure at Genoa: Call
FOR Election Is Forecast
Enemies Await Opening
Belief That U. S. Would Be
Led Into Participation Is
Held His Chief Blunder
By Arthur S. Draper
from The Trtbunc's Enropenn Burea,

iCopyright. l9c2. New York Tribune lncN
LONDON, May 1S,1 Lloyd Georges
government is in an unhappy position
rs result Of the failure of the Genoa
conference. Like pack Of wolves. a
lot of politicians arc circulating about
the present ministry, swapping and
snarllng ready to fall upon it the
moment they are convinced tina. it
cannot 30 them injury.
The question is raised here what
VIII Lloyd George do when he gets
nack from Genoa. where he went With
such great anticipations nearly six
weeks ago? The British are wondering
whether the master politician will
spring a general election before Sep.
tember 26, when the Russian commits
sion at The Hague must have its re-
port ready for ratification by the
different governments
NO other European leader is so sue
ccssful as Lloyd George at the states
mans task of d;veltiac attention from
the ills Of the moment to the ROSY
prospects of the future. and there is
a widely held belief here that he will
return to London prepared to call an
election Immediately, based on the
plans which he has prepared for The
Hague.
Conservative Ministry Possible
The present Parliament has eighteen
months more to run. and it is believed
ny,f, rnl
tives, who have a majority in the
House of Commons, might be able to
form q cabinet under the leadership
Of Andrew Bonar Law or Auste n
Chamberlain that could command the
country's support, although at the
moment Chamberlain is pretty thor
oughly committed to Lloyd George.
Returning to London to-day after
six weeks at Genoa, l find the British
people in a strange mood uncertain Of
what stand they should take. There
is no question that the Northcliffe
press and several other newspapers
that have supported Premier Poincare
Of France as against Lloyd George
have done the British Premier's cause
great deal Of damage.
Committees in both houses Of Par
lament are organizing big reception
for the Premier when he returns Sat-
urday, and early next week he is ex-
rected TO make a report of his efforts
at the conference. Unless he can over
come the heavy setback under which he
has suffered since the Russians de.
gested by the Allies and the United
States refused to take part in The
Hague gathering, he cannot hope to re-
gain the political prestige which he has
lost since he left home. His political
fortunes are sadly depleted and the
task of recoupng his losses will re-
Qu!re all his amazing skill and deter
mination.
Harvey and Child Blamed
Members of his encourage say that
American diplomatic representatives
have misnformed Lloyd George twice.
1t is reported that George Harvey.
United States Ambassador to the Court
of st. James's. was much too sanguine
at San Reno regarding Americas feel
ing toward the Genoa conference and
that las. week Richard Washburn
Child, American Ambassador to Italy,
let his remarks Of the view Washing
ton would take of The Hague invita-
tion be misinterpreted.
However much truth there is in these
two reports, the fact remains that
Lloyd George banked heavily on Amer
con participation fer the success of
both ventures. The United States holds
the KEY to the European problems--a
fact proved conclusively by the Genoa
failure. All the powers on this side of
the water appreciate that fact now
even more than they did before the
Genoa gathering. Credits from the
United States are absolutely necessary
if any real reconstruction is to be done
and America can fix her own terms
The British are wondering whether
Lloyd George will admit that the
Genoa conference was a failure, and,
if he does, whom he will hold respon-
sible. If he puts the blame on the
Bolsheviki he cannot hope to raise
much enthusiasm here for The Hague
commission plan. If he puts it on
France he will be supplying the strong
opposition in the House of Commons
with more high political explosive His
only other apparent alternative is to
try to convince the public that Genoa,
while not huge success, justified it.
self and its promoters. That would be
a big job for even the cleverest of poll
ticians.
Diplomatic Situation Disturbing
From an international point of view
the situation now is more disturbing
than before the Genoa gathering. The
two outstanding recent developments
have been the Russo-German alliance
and the further disintegratlon of the
Entente Cordiale.
Those who think that firtations with
Russia are silly because the Bol-
sheviki have nothing to give are not
-