Evening star., 1923-12-09

Continued from First Page,
10 the background where sat comfort
ably in a big armchair the am
shostly figure of David Lloyd-Georse.
The suggestion often is heard that
the eventual solution of the present
,,nsettlement will be the reinstatement
Of Lloyd George in the direction OF
the nations destiaies- but that Is only
ore of the many solutions discussed
One fact stands forth clearly. 1t is
that none of the people want another
general election with its cost, turmot
and disturbance of business, so long
as any arrangement of the government
can be devised to postpone it..
The name of Lord Derby is coming
to the front as possible conservative
leader in succession to Mr. BALDWIN.
Although the head of an ancient nonie
family and a great employer OF iaoor'
Derby is a popular man with all
classes. He has genial manner. passes
as typical, bluff plair-spoken Eng
lishman, and in politics is attributed
with the methods Of peace-maker.
He has often played this part IN
party crises, and he was made am
bassador to France when Britain's re-
lations with the French were at one
of the most delicate stages since the
war.
Has One Handicap.
Lord Derby has one handicap as a
candidate for the premiership in the
he her of
of lords. There has been no peer in
the office of prime minister since
Lord Roseberry. as parliament has
tended to become more democratic
and the feeling has strengthened that
the premier should be a member or
the commons, where he can meet the
direct representatives of the people
in the rough and tumble of debate
instead of delivering speeches in the
lords which would be more in the
nature of formal announcements to
the nation.
This disability has become stronger
with the new alignment OF parties.
Labor Is the principal opposition, and
labor has no representative in the
house of lords who could engage the
prime minister in debate or question
him. This argument put Lord CurZon
out Of the running sor the party lead
ership when Mr. Bonar Law retired.
curZon is not mentioned as a possible
successor to Mr.. Baldwin.
But 20 pressing is the need for some
one to carry on the government that
Lord Derby is a possibility on this
occa sion, despite this handicap. IT
is recognized after all that. even with
the forbearance of the other parties,
and by avoiding raising questions in
parliament likely to cause strife. the
conservatives could hardly expect to
continue for more than a year in
office. Such Il development is not un-
likely, because in the first hours of
perpIexity over the situation no prog
ress has been made toward any such
coalition of parties as conduct bust
ness in the continental parties when
there is no party that comma nds a
majority.
Labor Position Peculiar.
The labor party is in the peculiar
position that it's leaders apparently
do not want to take office, even if
they are asked. For one reason. some
of them say their new party has not
enough men experienced in public ar
fairs to I'LL all the important Offices
which they would be compelled to
fill J. Ramsay Macdonald might
decline the honor of forming a gov
crnn1ent, IL the course of events
should bring the offer to him: then
the opportunity might come to MIR.
AsQuith.
The three courses from which Mr.
Baldwin must choose are: To remain in
Office and await developments to tender
his resignation to the king and advise
the king to summon another conserva-
tive to form a government, or to advise
the king to summon the labor leader.
In the event of the choice Of the first
course by the prime minister the con-
servatives could be overthrown imme-
diately by the laborites and liberals
combining on some vote against the
government. This they could easily do
without any formal coalition, and in
such case Ramsay Macdonald or Mr.
AsQuith would become premier.
The liberals believe that protection
has sidetracked the conservative party
for years, as it did before, and hope
that the future belongs to the middle
party, which is not associated with any
radical plans Of labor This might
mean for them another chapter of
Aequith government, followed by the
return Of LLOYD George