WESTMINSTER DRAMAS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 July 1927, Page 11

WESTMINSTER DRAMAS

BONAR LAW’S STRUGGLE

MANY grim dramas, many tragedies during the long history of Britain’s have been enacted at Westminster Parliament, and some of those in recent years have been particularly poignant. One of the grimmest struggles was fought out by Mr. Bonar Law in his last year- His exertions and responsibilities during the Great War undermined his health, and he collapsed in March, 1921. On the advice of his doctors, he resigned his great office as Prime Minister, and went away for a very dubious rest cure to the South of France. He had been suffering from high blood pressure, a common enough ailment, but a serious one when it affects the overworked. Later a much worse thing threatened. Bonar Law had a delicate throat. There was the seed of terrible trouble there. As time went on, he found that his voice left him after any public speaking. With this inhibition, too, there was great pain. None of his medical advisers or friends even hinted at a malignant growth. At that first dismissal from affairs, however, a death-message was threatened. He returned, however, from his rest in the autumn, came back to the House of Commons, and took part in recommending the adoption of the Irish Treaty, concluded between the Coalition Government and the Irish leaders, Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith. For the first six months of 1922 he spoke only occasionally. The Unionist party Avas getting very rest He under the premiership of Lloyd George, and the Die-Hards formed an antiGeorge party under the leadership of Lord Salisbury. The question Avas fought out at the Carlton Club. Bonar LaAv’s considered and stated advice Avas that the Conservative members of the Coalition should leave it and appeal to the country. Lloyd George at once resigned and Bonar LaAv Avas unanimously elected leader of the Conservative party, some prominent members of the Coalition being excluded. It Avas Avith great umvillingness that Bonar LaAv, Avith the shadoAV of death hanging over him, Aveak. A'oiceless, at times in agony, took up the task of forming a cabinet. He Avas never an ambitious man, and in those latter years of his terrifying illness, it Avould have been an intense relief for him to have gone into quietude, remote from every bruit of politics. and to have enjoyed some peace before the end came. This Avas not to be. The man avlio, in addition to his oay'u dreadful illness, had borne the irreparable grief of the death of lavo youngsons in action, had to undertake another spell of duty at a time Avhen unemployment, labour unrest, the Turkish menace, trouble Avith France over the question of the Ruhr and the Empire debts, had introduced the gravest complications into British governmentBonar Law struggled on as best he could, holding death at arm’s length. In the following spring he resigned office forever. He survived fn-e months, stumbling painfully through the valley of the shadoAV. This too-conscien-tious public servant Avas buried in Westminster Abbey, the pallbearers including the Prince -of Wales, Mr. Baldwin and past prime ministers. He had accepted his high and onerous office knoAving what the outcome must be. Lord Curzon of Kedleston, a much less popular figure, spent himself in lifelong seiwice to

STARS WHOSE LIGHT WAS DIMMED

the State. From boyhood he had suffered from spinal Aveakness. This debarred him from all forms of sport and compelled a sedentary and studious life. As he greAV older, he Avorked harder. E\ r ery year he made an increased demand on his small store of health. In one position in the Empire, that of Viceroy of India, his pride and pomp Avere assets, not defects. He Avrote his name enduringly on the annals of Indian Government, upholding the highest traditions of the famous British Raj. As foreign minister, he Avas not so successful, his haughtiness and inflexibility standing in the way of understanding Avith his colleagues and agreement AA’itli diplomatic Europe. Curzon had lavo great disappointments in his career. The first one Avas Avhen he was OA rerlooked for the premiership, plain Mr. Bakhvin being elected. The second Avas Avhen Bakhvin passed him OA'er for the Foreign Office, giving it to Austen Chamberlain. On both occasions the marquis acted Avith magnanimity and loyalty to his party. He Avas chairman of the meeting that elected Mr. Bakhvin to the Conservative leadership, and in Mr Bakhvin’s administration he accepted the mainly ornamental office of Lord President of the CouncilAfter years of ever-increasing labour, his health broke doAvn, and he died in May, 1925, in London, lamented e\ r en by those avlio Avere most strongly opposed to him as a Statesman and an individual. He could have led a life of leisure and splendid ease. He preferred to work fourteen hours a day in the Service of a country that did not greatly appreciate him. The Earl of Oxford, caluminated by his enemies and deserted by his friends, as prime Minister after the great struggle began, suffered a crowning grief during the Avar in the death of his brilliant son. Raymond, avlio had as Avonderful a career at Oxford as his distinguished father, and Avould have done great things in politics. The House mourned the loss of Willie Redmond, but it had more reason to deplore that of Captain Tom Kettle. In many respects * Kettle Avas the most brilliant man Ireland had produced since the eighteenth century. As a scholar, an essayist, a poet, he was a man Avith the Avidest European outlook. He Avas a great favourite in the House of Commons by reason of his charm and his Avit. He said some extraordinarily good things at Westminster. His reference to Tim Ilealy as a “brilliant calamity” Avas sheer genius in definition. Of that profuse speaker and writer, Mr. Ililare Belloc, he said Avith a rare bite: “I don’t mind loquacity so long as it isn’t Bellocquacity.” Very memorable Avas his classification of government and opposition: “When in office the Liberals forgot their principles and the Tories remember their friends.” Tall, slight, handsome, with mobile lips and laughing eyes, Kettle Avas a wonderful companion. He loved Ireland and fought for her. He understood England and fought for her also. He went doAvn in the hottest corner of the Ginchy fighting. He dropped to earth, and in trying to rise again he Avas struck by another bullet. A Avail of anguish Avent up from a group of Dublin Fusiliers. He summoned up a last laugh: “Go on, boys,” he said, pointing to the German lines-