Evening star., 1922-11-22

the same line. and may say how sim
cerely I rejoice in the tribute to ''an
amateur diplomatist" which Is inn
piled in the conferring OF the blue
ribbon of diplomacy upon Lord Crewe.
This precip!tate and lamentable de-
cision lost at least forty liberal seats
and gave to the conservatives their
majority. The national liberals were
pursued into their constituencies.
Thirty-five national liberal seats
were assailed by independent liberal
candidates. am not making a COM
plant, but offering an explanation:
Whatever the views of the national
| liberal leaders might have been on
| the subject of liberal unity. they were
given no chance and left no choice in
| the matter. and although they enter
ed into no compact with the con-
servatives, their followers in certain
areas had no option but to negotiate
local arrangements with the con-
servatives for mutual support. What
was the inevitable result? No real
ciples on either side. The independ-
ent liberals were tangled by the per-
sonal preoccupation of their leaders
the national liberal leaders were en-
barrassed by engagements into which
| their followers had been driven by
the action of independent liberal
leaders.
The national liberals. in spite of
their enormous difficulties, have not
been exterminated. I am not going
to enter into a barren inquiry as to
| whether their numbers are or are not
greater than those Of Mr.. Asquith's
| followers. Let it be assumed that
| they are equal. The marvel is that
under these fratricidal conditions SO
many liberals of any complexion have
been returned.
am not setting forth these un-
happy facts in order to prolong a
| controversy which has poisoned lib
| eralism for years. but in order to call
attention to vitality which. in spite
| OF these depressing conditions, can
| bring up 100000 voters to the polls
| Electorally liberalism is the balance
! ing power and if it casts it's united
| strength against either reaction or
| subversion its influence must be de-
cisive whatever the composition OF
this parliament may be.
Would Welcome Co-OperatiOn.
1t is common knowledge that the
| independent liberals confidently an
! ticipated the return Of at least 120
| members of their group. The fact
that they only succeeded in securing
| the return Of about fifty is naturally
to them a source Of deep disappoint-
ment. If the failure of their high
hopes leads to the contemplation or
sincere desire is manifested to subst1-
| tute cooperation for conflict. my col
leagues and I will welcome it. We
cannot force our society on an un-
willing company.
During the campaign I repeatedly
| expressed the hope that one outcome
Of this election would be to bring
the moderate men Of progressive out
look of all parties to see the wisdom
of acting together. Progressive minds
Z, h.
eral party. 1 have met many in the
| conservative party. and the election
will have taught many men and
| women in the Tabor party that violent
| and extravagant proposals impede
progress.
II the limits are not too narrowly
drawn this parliament may witness
the effective association Of men Of
many parties who are genuinely
concerned in the advancement of
mankind along the paths of peace
| and progress for the attainment of
| achieved the coming years will not
be spent in vain
One word as to the national lib
erals. When dissolution came no
party was ever placed in a more en-
barrassing and even desperate situa-
tion. The conservatives had at their
disposal a great political machine.
The labor party could command the
support Of all the trade unions with
their elaborate machinery for or
ganizing the wage-earning popula-
ton.
Liberal Machine Captured.
The independent liberals had in
England and in Scotland captured the
liberal machine almost in its entirety
and had spent six years in perfecting
it, their leaders having no other oc-
cupation. The national liberal lead
ers inherited no political machinery
and were too preoccupied with great
world affairs to be able to devote any
time to the improvisation of an ef-
fective new organization. The con-
servatives, independent liberals and
labor all alike attacked the national
liberal seats where they thought any
advantage might be gained for their