The Denver Jewish news., 1924-07-31

TIC opinion IN the world. lie paid none j
the less n penalty, cruel In II intensity, I
FOR what only an error of Judgment.
And. accordingly, when he was made .
Lord chief Justice of England, in the
year 1913, the objections, though shrilly |
and spltcfully expressed, were neither |
serious nor widely spread. In that
high office he displayed many admirable
qualities lie was always courteous, /
patient lie was always asslduous, and
Industrious liut he did not, perhaps,
realize upon the Bench the high cNpcc-
tntion of his juridical qualities which
his skin in nrguing legal points hnd
seemed TO justify. Indeed, TO argue
points OF law with high distinction does
not always make II certain that he who
30 argues will deliver judgments with
equal distinctions 1t may be that IL
events had allowed him 10 end his
career in the placid atmosphere of the
Law Courts, he would have become a
great Lord Chief Justice. But the
constant Interruptions and preoccupa-
tions of his judicial career, produced
partly by the war. but partly, think,
by his own impatience of sedontary
judicial career. denied him the cppor-
tunity of creating u lasting judicial
reputation.
With the outbreak of war his iinan-
cial gifts found employment at the
Treasury, where he coopcrated/ closely
with Mr.. Lloyd George in the mastery
and then ended the formidable crisis
/ in the City. In 1915 he was made
President of the Anglo-French Loan
Mission TO the United States. In 1917
he was sent again to that country as
Special Envoy. And in 1918 he became
High Commissioner, and Special Am
bassador to that country.
Lord Reading may not have been a
very great lawyer, but he was undoubt-
edly. very great diplomat. His
charm his tact, his patience, his lucid
intelligence, and his incredible grasp
Of detail combined TO give him an equip
ment which few diplomats. even among
the greatest, have enjoyed. have
spoken of the prejudice which existed
in the United States against Jews. He
completely conquered 1t. | had &C
cisi0n myself to visit the United States
while he was there as Ambassador
and having had some opportunity of
making comparisons, ! doubt whether
Washington has won more affection or
ATTAINED to n greater general popularity.
And Mt most critical time In the re
lations between the two States his
practical mastery of the questions
which from day TO day required dis
cussion and decision, was of the utmost
service to both countries in the most
critical stages of the war.
There came Il time when it seemed
that his special usefulness in America
was exhausted, and that his own
judicial duties in this country required
his return. And SO Cnce again we he
hold him in the Lord Chef Justices
Court in the Strand But doubt
whether he was every really happy
there, nor perhaps were all his "Puis
nes' completely happy with him. They
thOught-and in ordinary times there
is everything to he said for their view
that the duties of the Lord Chief JUS
iicc of England are to he discharged
in the Law Courts, ON circuit, and in
the House of Lords. In normal times
there is, Of course, everything TO be
said for this view. Perhaps they made
too little allowance for the Hbnormality
Of the times, and he too little for the
cXigcnt obligations of the high Office,
which he held. There were many for
instance, who thought-in my judgment
unreasonably at such tImc-that alb
Sences 50 protracted in the United
States should have involved the resigna-
tion of 50 high judicial position.
But these criticisms-ofteup prompted
by malicc-bccnme out of date when he
was offered. and accepted, the high po-
Stion of Nccroy of India.
In accepting this office he gave up
one of the greatest judicial positions
in the world and also pension which
he had done much to earn.
He undertook great risks at mo
ment when he was no longer in his Wig
Orous youth The troubles which have
bcSet British rule in India in the last
few years are well known to most pco-
| pie. They are particularly wcll-known
TO those who have held high Office in
successive Governments during the re-
lcyant period. Lord Reading was com
PEELED to undertake the task Of giving
effect to the Montague Chelmsford re-
| forms in which he had not been con
Ia