Liverpool is, however, a mere episode in the disintegration of the present Coalition. Such disintegra tion was inevitable and it does not much matter how it comes about. The main point is, "What will happen in the future?" The events of the last few days have made it clear that we are steadily evolving a new Coalition, which may not—possibly will not-—be called a Coalition, but will rejoice in the name of a duly constituted Party. No Party in polities was iti ever made attificially. Several efforts have been made since 1018 but none have been successful—not even the Centre Party, which had the name without the vitality.
The Prime Minister cannot fail to realize that there is a section of the old Unionist Party which mistrusts him. It showed its antagonism in the House and at Liverpool and even now it has veiled its real feelings. The Die-Hards are not merely hostile to the Government Policy, but they mistrust it personnel. They do not like Mr.
George, but they are equally cri cal of the Leader of the Hous. After all, he has Liberal antecedents, and they themselves are of the old Tory strain. They think the country is ready for a course. of their pamaceas and they are more than ready to split off. The Prime Minister will not object to their going, because he will replace them.
The next election will compel all to show their hands. If postponed for a possible period of 12 months, the cleavage may become more and more pronounced.
The Prime Minister will, therefore, se? on whom he can count. Two courses lie open to him—alliance with Liberalism and Labour, or association with those members of the Tory Party who to the number of some 200 have almost insensibly come to regard him as leader, and an attempt to hold those Liberal followers he has, and even capture those still outside the fold. Mr. Lloyd George knows, too, perfectly well that Labour would join him to-morrow in any Coalition, were the programme attractive. They have realized the grave mistake they made in leaving his Cabinet in 1917-18 and in many cases are quite ready to come back to secure the influence and the experience.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.