San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18
Bonar Law Unhampered by
Opposition in Seeking
Solution for Crisis.
MUST RECALL TROOPS
Lloyd-George May Have
Chance to Recover His
Lost Leadership.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

! copyright, by The San Antonio Light.
London. Feb. 17.-Because Premier
Ronar law has no serious opposition
in Parliament. Britain's hand cannot
now be forced in the European crisis.
He will be afforded every opportunity
to work out satisfactory solution
without jeopardizing the future of the
country if that is possible.
Law, naturally a sorrowful man.
with sud eyes. a downcast and melan-
cholic appearance. would, IL he fol-
lowed his disposition. very likely re-
tire cell and reflect on the futility
of life. No doubt he would have
lodged his present enormous RESPONSE
bi.ities il he had been able to do so.
And he will escape if a favorable op-
portunity affords. Meanwhile he sees
his gospel of tranquility made a Jest
of by foreign and domestic events. He
stands aghast before the paralyzing
doings of Poincare in the Ruhr. These
doings, cutting the jugular vein of
the European industrial system" are
most serious. But what can he doll
Poincare has taken the bit in his
teeth and pays no more respect to the
opinion Of the British than to the
opini, n of the Fiji islanders.
While the French would be glad TO
see the British withdraw from Co.
logne. the Germans would not. They
want us to remain, doubtless hoping
for clash that would finally finish
the entente.
Situation Full Of Peril.
law is hopelessly perplexed. II he |
withdraws the troops the world will
see an irreparable rupture with
France. Humiliating incidents are oil
d lily occurrence. Military opinion ut
home would bring the troops back |
and the morale of the men is being
shattered by the march of events.
1t no longer is doubted that Law
must eventually recall the troops and
the opinion is growing that now is the
proper time. Cur2on's admission in
the House Of Commons that at any
at crisis may arise indi-
Gates the peril of the situation. The
French have demanded the right to
use the railways through the British
occupied territory. This makes our
position even more serious and more
Fortunately all parties realize the
seriousness of the situation ami Sarc
anxious to support the govcrnment,
whenever possible. The opposition to
the Ruhr invasion is growing more
and more bitter. Outside of the
Harmsworth press everyone is against
the adventure.
LlOyd.GeOrge Without Party.
1t is clear that Lloyd-George has
broken with the Tories and that his
plan of forming Center party with
and Chamberlain has
broken down. His only
future lies in recording
his position with the Liberals who
lack popular leader in their ranks.
If he succeeds there will be a con-
siderable exodus from the Liberal
party to the ranks Of labor which al
ready has absorbed much of the adj
vanced element of the rank and file.
The perpleXity of the situation is
increased by knowledge that George is
much more vigorous in his opposition
10 the French policy in the Ruhr than
any other British political leader. In
this respect at least he voices the
Labor and Liberal feeling more eff
fectively than anyone else. His OPP
anyone else is responsible for putting
the French in position to slay Europe
and because Of this they insist he is
not the person TO lead an attack on
France.
Considerations of that sort mean
little and il he should advocate a
strong line of opposition he may 20
far to recover his lost leadership. In
any case England may be standing on
the brink of sensational developments.