The Press Friday, March 3, 1922. British Politics

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17394, 3 March 1922, Page 6

The Press Friday, March 3, 1922. British Politics

It beoomes increasingly evident, as the political crisis at Home develops, that Sir George ''oungar made a .grave mistake in attempting to dictate the course of action which Mr Lloyd George ! should adopt, anu we think we may add safely that it becomes more and more apparent that the British Prime Minister is making full use , 0 f the advantage so unintentionally offered, him. There had been a good deal of talk for I some little time before the end of last year that a general election would take i place early this year. Those who held this view do not seem t 0 have had any very definite reasons for doing so, though it was believed in many quarters that Mr Lloyd Georgo favoured tho step. It is certain that, before he left London to attend the Cannes Conference, he consulted some of his more prominent colleagues as to the advisableness the Government seeking a fresh mandate at an early date, and equally certain that no decision was then reached. Then, when Mr Lloyd George was deeply engaged in the momentous discussions at Cannes, Sir George Younger,. chairman of the Na-1 itional Unionist Association—the; "ma- •* chine" of the Unionist Party—in a series of newspaper interviews and in a circular letter to Onionist members and officials of the party's organisations in the constituencies, practically vetoed the suggestion of a general election. He contended, with considerable justification, that there was no political crisis, that the Government had been receiving loyal support in Parliament, that, the industrial situation in the country made an election inadvisable, and that the programme on which the Coalition had been elected had not been completed, one of the chief tasks yet remaining to be carried out being the promise of the Government to reform the House of Lords, with the object of making it more fairly representative and more efficient. He concluded by asserting that Unionist members of Parliament werd declaring that, if they were forced into an election, they would stand, not as Coalitionists, but as Independent Unionists, which would mean the end of the Coalition. Much of this was sound enough, but as it was put before the public it was a distinct threat to the Prune Minister, that he must do as the Unionist chair- , man/told him or take the consequences. That-was not exactly the way to deal with' Mr Lloyd George. The only reply I he made at the time was to state tnat he had not .deckled upon a'general election, but though he has' sometimes claimed that he has the patience of an oyster, since he returned to London he has indicated a strong objection to dictation. He will either be the directing head of the Government or ho will resign.- Wo are inclined to/ -think that the rumours of his intended resignation are port of his campaign against hia critics, and are not to be taken very seriously, at least at present. The Unionists very largely outnumber the Coalition Liberals, and apparently some of their prominent members believe that in the event of a definite split and an appeal to the country, they would secure a majority as a separate party. But as the "Obseiver" lately reminded them, the Unionists at the last election owed more to Mr Lloyd George's prestige than he owed to their support} and without hiai they would not have the faintest hope of repeating their former sue-, cess. The .responsible leaders of the Unionists in Parliament, Mr Chamberlain and Mr Balfour, have offered the Prime Miniate* the samo measure of support as in the past. In view, however, of Mr Lloyd George's statement that the continuation of the Coalition Government is impossible if the Conservative leaders allow the "party «' bosses" —a reference, no doubt, to Sir George Younger—to issue orders, there 18. some warrant for the report'from London that the Unionist Party must either disclaim Sir George's aggressive attitude/or split. In the end, though it,is rash to predict on such a matter, the former of these two courseb will probably,be chosen. Mr Lloyd George .will thus have brought the recalcitrant section of the Coalitionists to heel, and Parliament, Which has, yet two yours to go, may well last for at least the better part of a year before the members face the electors again. The interests of the country will best be served by such a course. It ie proverbially bad policy

to change horses when crossing a stream, and the Old Country is at present in no condition to sustain the disturbance consequent on a general election without suffering a set-back on the road to recovery, along which it is progressing by slow and difficult steps.