Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-06


tween the two countries.
Thomson's political career was spec
tacular. Until 1920 few people knew
Of him. Soldiers knew him well because
he had brilliant army record. After
being liaison officer between British and
French headquarters during the World
War, he was sent as military attache
and then as chief of the military mis-
sion to Rumania, where he soon became
persona grata to King Ferdinand and
Queen Marie of Rumania. His diplo-
matte talent indicated him for that
post and he did much toward bringing
Rumania in on the side Of the allies.
Sought Action in Field.
Tired of diplomatic work, Thomson
asked to be recalled and was sent in
1917 to Egypt, where Lord Allenby
gave him the command of a brigade
which did much to crush the German
Turkish resistance. At the head Of
his brigade he captured Jericho in 1917.
Soon afterward David Lloyd George
sent for him, and Thomson, then only
brigadier general, became chief of
staff of the big four at Versailles. Dur
ing the peace conference Thomson was
accused of having an unpatriotic atti-
tude because he warned Lloyd George
and Clemeneeau that dissolution Of the
Austrian empire and the too harsh
terms the allies intended to impose on
Germany would only prepare the world
fer another war.
Thomson was sent back to London
with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Soon after he resigned and was given
the honorary rank Of brigadier gen.
eral with lieutenant colonel's pension.
Became MacDOnaId's Friend.
During the war he had met Ram
say Mcdonald and was drawn toward
the Labor leader. Thomson became
of the Labor party, but per-
sistently refused to join the Socialist
group: he came from an old family of
soldiers and although he sympathized
with the ideas Of the labor people, he
could not agree with the socialiStic
theories. His aristocratic appearance,
his love for good wines and food and
other pleasant things materialistic life
could offer, made him unpopular with
the rank and file of the Labor party
and although he tried several times to
enter the House Of Commons he was
defeated.
When Macdonald was intrusted with
thL formation OF the first Labor cabi-
net he offered Thomson the post OF
secretary for air and peerage. There
House of Lords and Macdonald was
looking round for six gentlemen" to
sit in the upper house. Thomson ac-
cepted the honor reluctantly because
he was too poor to pay $1,000 for the
patent letters which raised him from
all ordinary commoner to the peerage.
Neither could he see his way TO paying
another $4,000 for the various robes
and other paraphernalia necessary for
a privy councillor and member OF
the upper house.
The problem was solved by the gov
eminent waving the claim for pay
ment for the patent letters and Thorn
son was fortunate enough to find an
entire peers outfit second hand. He
purchased 1t for $3.50 payable in four
Brilliant Record Made.
His work as secretary for air in the
first Labor administration was bril-
liant His Conservative successor, Sir
Hoare, wrote him when he took
over the office after the defeat OF the
labor cabinet at the polls in 1925
thanking him for the admirable work
he had done for the British commercial
and military aviation.
Relations between Thomson and his
chief. Ramsay Macdonald, became more
and more cordlal. III was SdlQ among
the Labor leaders that the only man
who had MacDonald's unquestionable
confidence in the party was Lord Thorn
son.
Thomson was poor all his life. He
had a two-room apartment on top of
building occupied by a secondhand
clothes shop and employment agency
near oxford Circus in London. There
used to spend hours discus
sing with his trusted lieutenant national
and world affairs.
Wanted Liberal Alliance.
After the 1929 elections, when the
Labor party was returned TO Office,
Thomson used all his influence with
Ramsay Macdonald, trying to induce
him to establish a working arrangement
with the Liberals, but the distrust Of
the British premier for Lloyd George
made such cooperation impossible. 1t
was Thomson, however, who arranged,
in spite of his chief, truce with the
Liberals which enabled the Labor party
to weather several severe political
storms, and 1t was he again who quite
recently induced Macdonald to make
temporary alliance with Lloyd George
against the Conservatives and the
ever increasing Protectionists.
King George liked Lord Thomson
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