Evening star., 1922-12-24
POLITICAL SHAKE-UP
PLEASES BR|T0NS
Skeletons Laid Away as Peo.
pie Prepare for Enjoyment
of Holiday.
B0NAR LAW GAINS FAVOR
Defeat of Lloyd George Considered
Victory for Clean
Politics.
By A. G. GARDINER,
Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.

Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.
Special Cable Dispatch 10 The Star.
LONDON, December 2S.-The in
domitable spirit of Christmas spreads
over the land. London never has
been more cheerful. Never has i,
seemed apparently more prosperous
The streets are full of people laden
with parcels. The shops are jammed
Theaters are overcrowded: hotels are
full.
All skeletons have been put away
for the season. The Turkish skele.
ton is securely buried at Lausanne
doubtless with the pr spect of an
early resurrection. The Ruhr skele-
until Christmas is over. The unem-
ployment ske1eton-most sinister OF
all facing England-is not to be per-
mftted to cast a shadow over the
feast. The entire nation is determtn-
ed to enjoy an old-fashioned Christ.
various closets. Indeed. we have go,
SO accustomed to skeletons that we
almost have ceased to be afraid OF
them. They seem to belong TO. the
very nature Of things.
!; Undoubtedly one cause of the gen.
GRAZ iCSilh6 utouSh houS the
country Is the recent political eX.
plosion. Everybody seems relieved
at the disappearance of coalition and
the return to straight. clean politics
The public. realizing the evils of the
late political dictatorship. rejoices in
the restoration of parliamentary gov
ernment.
Lloyd George Blamed.
Even the liberals agree that Pre-
I oyr Is 40 iy,xp mr. H.
Grafton and wisdom. He displays nc
disposition to initiate the stunt
methods of his predecessor or to
make himself d sort of Barnum
Snowman.
Moreover. Laws quiet. decent
cession Of disclosures which is max
ing havoc of the remnants of Lloyd
Georges reputation has won the ap-
proval of the country. Almost daily
new light is thrown on the former
premier's responsibility for the Greek
zation that this country has been in
volved up to it's neck in one of the
most deplorable tragedies of history.
The attempt of Lloyd George and
Birkenhead to throw the blame on
Curzon has ended in grotesque
fiasco and apologies. Never was ~ an
engineer 80 completely hoist with his
own petard.
But the public always is more in
terested in comedy than in tragedy
1t is rocking with laughter over the
priceless pantomine staged by Lloyd
George in collaboration with a Sec
tion of the press in the United States
1t is agreed there is a serious aspect
to the matter. British craftsmanship
never before has been mixed up in an
affair of this sort. But the comedy
aspect commands the chief interest
George first contracted for publica-
ton of his memoirs at a fabulous
price and then. after public criticism
waxed warm. announced his intention
Of giving the proceeds to charity
afterward entering into this new un-
dertaking, has resulted in his action
being mercilessly criticized by
united press here.
The plea of the former prime min
lister that he is a poor man and must
earn a living has not helped him
Even poor men, especially, former
prime ministers. are expected to OBJ
serve certain traditions. Moreover. i,
is being pointed out very plainly that
he is not entitled to call himself q
poor man. Apart from anything else
he received an annual income ei
SO, ,009> under the Carnegie will. This
is not h great fortune. but enough
to keep the wolf from the door, This
else to complete the amazing dis
credit under which the light of the
late premier has been eclipsed. His
prospects OF political resurrection are
rapidly reaching zero. He still ap-
parently clings to the hope of re-
the ioaves and fishes Of Office are nc
longer in his gift and there is q
marked tendency on the part of his
followers to fall away. -
Hands-O6 Ruhr Policy.
His attacks on French policy are
unappreclated, even by those who de-
plore the attitude assumed by France
He Id noe in a position to make them
for he was more responsible thar
impre ssion that England would sup
port her in extravagent demands or
Germany.
It has: been left to- his successort
to disabuse France of that idea. Thi<
now IL being done, with what enec,
is the Impression here that while
military occupation of the Ruhr will
not be attempted, economic occupa.
tlon will. This is the same thing
under disguise. France cannot
work the Ruhr without bayonets OF
without the good will of the German
people. II cannot control German
customs or forests without the same
conditions. England will have moth.
ing to do with such policies. She re-
fuses to treat Germany as q bank
rupt to be maintained in q condition
mean the bankruptcy Of Europe and
the bankruptcy Of England as we'll
Critical days are before US. II Poin-
care pursues his announced policy the
entente ends.
T. r. J