BONAR LAW

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1933, Page 11

BONAR LAW

"PERFECT PARTNERSHIP" IN POLITICS

HIS PESSIMISM

The 25th instalment of Mr. Lloyd George's memoirs is' devoted to his greatest friend in his political life—Mr. Bonar Law. It throws bright illumination oh the qualities, character, and temperament, of one of the notable British statesmen of ihc war years. (By David Lloyd George—No. 25—-Copyright.)

Mr. Baldwin, in a speech on Bonat Law, once said that his co-operation with mo during tho war was the most perfect partnership in political history. This statement must havo seemed extravagant to those not intimately acquainted with the facts. I recollect that when I was on the threshold of my official career I was warned by a very shrewd observer, who Jiad been privileged through a long political life to be on intimate terms with some of the greatest figures in tho political world, to bear in mind that "there is no friendship at the top." At tho time this, observation struck me as being the cynicism of a disillusioned man. I wish that after long years of experience I could write with conviction today that hi,a comment was unjustifiable. Yet for nearly five years Mr. Bonar Law's friendship for me and mine for him not only survived but grew from year to year. . When ill health drove him from collaboration and companionship, I felt the separation more deeply than any I ■have endured during my political life. Immediately on his retirement he left DISLIKED B Although Mr. Asquith had come from Similar stock and the like environment, sic strove consistently to quit his early past aud to surround himself with the appearance of being a native of anotEer world, to which lio really never belonged by origin, disposition, or pursuits, and to conform as best he could to these new surroundings. Bonar Law would have disdained such contortions to adjust himself to social conditions which ho detested and despised. He never appreciated Bonar Law's mental quality, or the fine but strong fibre of his character. He did not undervalue his abilities; Jie placed no value at all upon them. There waa another reason why Mr. Asquith had a fundamental dislike for Mr. Bonar Law. The latter was by temperament a pessimist. His first impulse when a project or a prospect was placed before him was to dwell on its difficulties and dangers. I found that idiosyncrasy useful and even exhilarating. When I had any plans I took them arotind to Bonar Law to test them on his doubting and uricnthusiastic nature. Ho had an incomparable gift of {practical criticism. When he had finSLAVE TO He'never'seemed tome to havo'any appreciation of the brighter side of life. When ho and I paid a visit to Paris to confer with tho Trench Government, I took him in the evening to see that joyous cqhiic opera, "La Mile de Madame Angpt". I have never seen a man so painfully bored at a performance. He continually left the play for the foyer, where I found him smoking his pipe. When I asked him whether he did not enjoy the performance, he said: "It: would be quite tolerable if it were not for the singing." I remember before the war, while •we were both staying at Cannes, driving withhim on a sunny day along the load -to the golf course at Cagues. The sky Was cloudless and the sea was blue as only the Mediterranean can be, while on our left was tho white-topped amphitheatre of the Maritime Alps. I turned to Bonar and asked him if he did not think it beautiful, "i don't care much for scenery," he replied iv his rather toneless voice. ' As wo approached the golf course we saw some extremely pretty women also on their way to • play golf. I