The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-15


Copyright. 1922, by THE FEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
London, sunday, Oct. Is.
LLOYD Georges speech in Manchester
has not broken down the hostility of the
press. The Northcliffean Sunday Des-
match opens the drumfire against the
Prime Minister by declaring that his
speech is a mastery feat Of evasion. 1t
saws that despite all of Mr.. Lloyd
Georges claim that he has kept peace
in the Near East II was Gen. Sir Charles
Harrington who really did 1t while Mr..
LLOYD George was bound up in policies
three years OF vacillation and three
wears of backing the Greeks-which al
most brought ruins 1t says that the net
result Of his policy Is that the Turks
have now been brought back in.o Europe
whence they could have been kept out
several times If the element had been
forced in the last three years.
James l.. Garvin in the Observer also
refuses 10 accept Mr.. Lloyd Georges
statement that he kept us out of war.
Even the faithful Lord Riddles Neics OF
the World, though 1t does not comment
editorially on the political situation.
q
Element with something more than faint
damns.
= Lloyds new Sunday edition of the
Chronicle alone gives unstnted praise
to the Prime Minister. But perhaps
the truest outline of the situation Is
contained in the final paragraph of a
leader In the Sunday Times, owned by
the Berry Brothers. who have been
staunch and strong supporters Of both
the Coalition and Lloyd George. After
demanding a general election to give
the nation a really representative Par
lament and clear up the personal ami
mosities and frlctions established by
strong and sane opposition. it says:
when the question finally is put there
will be two issues. Lloyd George will
be first Coalition Government of coal-
ton principles. as judged by its results,
will be second.
The Prime Minister has friends enough
IL he has also the inclination and energy
to put in a fight for his own position.
His Government is perhaps vulnerable
but we would advise all prospective
candidates to ponder well before they
attack the general principle of the coali-
ton system. 1t is the principle that
most probabilities of the case point out
as the governing principle of our policies
really needed to correct it's abuse or de-
merits is a well balanced parliament and
the pressure Of vigilant opposition.
The plan of the leaders still remains
the same as outlined in a dispatch to
THE NEW York HERALD last Thursday.
Austen Chamberlain, head OF the Union
list leaders. and the Lloyd George
Unionists are making practically an
identical appeal on the record OF the
Coalition Government from separate
platforms. But together with the uni
versal dissatisfaction of the press with
the present personalities of both sorts
OF leaders it is a fact that many Union
list candidates have already gone far
along with campaign based on attack
ing the coalition.
Ordinarily these two factors would
make the Republication of Lloyd George
and the Coalition Government-even
perhaps of, Chamberlain and his friends
certain when the Unionist conference
meets. Lloyd George still holds the threat
of an immediate election before any one
is ready in his hands. ho@ver His
speech to-day shows how he can use 1t
despite the attacks OF the press. and 1t
may in the last moment enable the
Unionist leaders to hold the party in
line-perhaps at the price of promising
George--and going on with a Unionist
Premier or Government.
II seems that most of the non-Gov-
eminent Unionist leaders such as Sir
George Younger. custodian of the party
war chest. have accepted Chamber
lain's declaration in silence, and so far
have not spoken In criticism of Lloyd
Georges speech. seeing that 1t will APP
parently be a struggle of the leaders
together against the rank and file of the
party when the conference meets. The
Unionists have q great advantage over
Lloyd George because they have
brought the party organizations funds
into the coalition with them.
Lloyd George. though bringing in the
vast bulk OF the Liberal party. left the
organization's funds in Asquith's hands.
Lloyd George, on the other hand, has
the advantage of an overtowering per-
scnality. At any rate, his power is some
thing which all prospective opponents
fear, and these are anxious to avoid
having him choose his own time for n
contest on his own grounds. as would
be the case II an election were forced
before the peace conference.