Evening star., 1925-01-25
ASQU|TH SHELVED
/ WITH AN EARLDOM
Former Premier Accepts
Elevation to House of Lords.
May Lead There.
~ the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
LONDON, January 24.-What is
likely to be generally regarded as the
end of great political career came
Today with the announcement that
Herbert H. Asquith had accepted the
honor of an earIdom, offered by King
George on the advice OF Prime Minis
ter Baldwin, in recognition of his
great services to the nation" and had
chosen the historic title of Earl of
oxford famous in the country's
annals.
The earldom of Oxford. vested in
the famous De We're family, fourished
Trom 1142 to the death OF Aubrey De
We're, the twentieth earl. in 1903. when
It became extinct, but was revived in
I'LL In the person of Robert Harley,
who was speaker of the House OF
Commons and held other high gov
ernment positions. again to become
extinct with the death OF the sixth
earl in 1853.
The customary official announce
ment in the Gazette has not yet ap-
peared, but is expected TO be made
before parliament reassembles.
Pays Special Compliment.
Precedent has been followed by the
king in bestowing the honor separate
". this being the custom in cases OF
distinguished statesmen. instead Of
including the honor in the usual list
Of honors distributed at the new
year or on other special occa sIons.
Mr.. Asquith has on former occa-
sions declined similar offers which
included an offer of the bestowal of
the Order of the Garter, thus follow
ing the traditions of the great Eng
lish prime ministers preferring to be
known to history by their own
names. 1t may be assumed that
family influence had something to do
with former Premier Asouith's change
of mood in this respect
While there have been great prime
ministers and party leaders in the
House OF Lords, Lord Beaconsfleld and
Lord Salisbury being the last great
exemplars, it is thought that in the
present case Mr.. AsQuith's decision
TO go to the quiet atmosphere of the
upper house almost certainly be-
tokens his decision no longer to take
an active part in the leadership of
his party, which can best be exercised
in the lower house
Now 73 Years Old.
Mr. Asquith is 7S years old. His
party suffered a disaster in the last
general election and he himself failed
30 of his followers, and those mainly.
belonging to the Lloyd George wing
Of the Liberals. were successful
candidates The Conservatives have
an enormous majority in the House
Of Commons, assuring the Baldwin
government a proable life OF four or
five years.
Even were there a prospect OF a
revival in the declining fortunes OF
the Liberal party, there is very small
likelihood of a Liberal administra-
tion in England. before Asquith
would be very aged man. He rep
resented East Fife in the House of
Commons from 1886 until 1918, when
that constituency rejected him and
started his run Of political Ill luck.
For two years he was without a seat.
Then Paisley elected him in 1920, but
he was again unseated in the last
general election and went to Egypt
for holiday.
There have been many attempts to
find safe seat for him in the House
OF Commons, but none has material
tied, and he therefore, after a great
political career of 35 years. retires as
an elder statesman" to the calm of
the House of Lords. There, as lead
er Of his party in the upper house,
he will, at least, be in closer touch
with his followers than he would as
an outsider and will doubtless still
exercise great influence as an adviser
At present Lord Beauchamp Is lead
er Of the Liberals in the House of
Lords, but It is expected he will re-
sign that position in favor of the new
Earl OF Oxford.
Lloyd George in Saddle.
Thus the former premier leaves a
clear field in the House of Commons
for the Liberal leadership to his
younger and far more active and
energetic colleague, Mr.. Lloyd
George. who displaced him in the
premiership in a stormy period of
the great war. Whether he will still
retain the title of nominal leader of
his party will probably be decided
at the great convention OF the party
opening next week IN London to de-
eide such matters of the administra-
tion organization and to endeavor to
engineer great drive to obtain a
party fighting fund OF 100000.
As Mr.. Asquith lost his eldest son,
Raymond, in the war, his heir to the
title will be his grandson, Julian
Asquith, son of the late Raymond,
who will have the courtesy title of
Viscount Asquith.