New-York tribune., 1922-10-12
Lloyd George
Said to Oppose
Early Election
Friends Say Premier Will
Refute Critics in Speech
at Manchester, Making
Ballot Unnecessary
Prospect Excites Voters
Newspapers Again Voice
Party Doctrines, FIRST
Time in Nearly Six Years
By Arthur S. Draper
From Tae rrtbupe-s Esropeen bureau

From Tac Trybnyse's Eayopeaa BuYeaa
Copyright. 1892. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON. Oct. IL. All the political
managers are working in the expecta-
tson of general election in Decem-
Der. but the decision rests entirely
with Premier Lloyd George, who prob
ably will give the country clew as to
his plans when he makes his speech in
defense of his Near East policy at
Manchester on Saturday.
Some of the Premier's closest associ-
atcs declare he will not appeal to the
electorate this year, insisting that he
will rout his critics with his address.
A profound change in the political
atmosphere has taken place this week,
and after six years of Coalition rule
the newspapers are coming out in their
old colors. The Liberals are preach
ing liberalism, the Conservatives a4e
proclaiming the merits of their doc
trines, while the Coalition organs seem
undecided. There is, however, an air
of reality about the discussions which
is welcomed in all quarters after years
of the unnatural union of groups
which have few thingssin common,
The Labor party will begin its CAM
paign October 81. when mass meetings
at Liverpool, Bristol and Swansea will
be addressed by the principal leaders.
There will follow big meetings at
Portsmouth and Plymouth, and ar
rangements are under way for series
Of gatherings to continue through the
fall,
Lloyd George left LonGca to-day for
srr- x.,ho No Ia
speech for Saturday. /. was cousid-
e~cd significant that before his dopar-
ture he had a long cousult&tiol with
Winston Churchill, his chief Liberal
lieutenent, and Charles A. MeCurdy,
tue chief coalition organizer.
Election Prospect Excites People
England has not had an old-fash-
ioned election in more than ten years,
and the country is bukbling with ex-
citement over the three-cornered strug-
gle among Conservatives, Liberals and
Laborites. 1t is quite possible that
still another party may enter the con-
test and complicate the predictions of
the political prophets, for Austen
Chamberlain, Lord Privy Seal, wifl
open his campaign on Friday with
speech to the Birmingham Conserva-
tives, to whom he will talk concerning
VIC FoioS VI SodltttoH anu lne HeCeSSlby
of retaining the present combination
OF statesmen in power. Chamberlain,
Lord Birkenhead and few other lead
ers want the coalition system retained,
but apparently the bulk Of the Con-
servative party prefers to fight an in
dependent battle.
The Earl OF Derby is one of the
dark horses being groomed for the
Premiership, and he and his followers
think it would be for the best inter
ests of the Conservatives, as we'll as
for the country, for them to stand as
independent Tories. Andrew Bonar
Law is regarded in some quarters as
the logical successor to Lloyd George,
but there is a question as to whether
his health would stand the strain of
the place. There is still another group
of Conservatives who think Chamber
lain himself might become Prime Min
lister.
If Conservative Premier replaces
Lloyd George he is almost certain to
be one of these three.
The most ardent Liberals cannot fie-
ure out an election result which would |
permit them to form strictly Liberal |
government. Of all parties, they have
the greatest number of tried states
men, including former Premier AS
quith, Viscount Grey, Simon Runciman.
Viscount Cowdray, Reginald McKenna
and the Earl of Crewe. Viscount Grey