Father of the House of Commons and born in Manchester 72" years ago this month, Mr, Lloyd George may be termed the' "Aged Wels. man," but he is also known as the "Welsh Wizard." That style has now been affectionately endorsed in 4 recent "Punch" cartoon, and. it pertinently comes to mind when the prospects of his political future are discussed. "There "have been many [suggestions that he is "down and out." His illness a few months tack ave rise to the contention that would have to resign himdolf to the inevitable ease of the "elder states man." His handful. of accredited followers was ridiculed when attempts were made to emphasize hi: ability to dominate the House of Commons. His absorption in autobiographical activity was, considered t0 be creating for him dri annecessarily wide circle of opponents. Yet in the last few weeks he has shown tration in the past, and may be expected to continue to do so. Its not to be thought for one instance teat those responsible for the defeat fof the Administration would prefer to resort to the arbitrament of the sword rather than to the aris of. peace for the solution of internat.on-al dimculties. More probably they have in mind suggestions recently ventilated which might achieve the same ends of peace by means which appear to be. growing more popular in Great Britain and certain sections of public opinion in the United States. Whether those rugs gestions, if carried to fulfillment, would involve entanglements such as the antagonists of the movement towards the World Court and the League would infer, remains to be seen. Viewed internationally, it would seem, no matter what pressure that even the leaders of the big battalions have to take not= of his words. He can command audiences which many a member of the pres ent Government would sigh" in vain to address. When he was enaged in the congenial occupation, of hitting out lett and right in the old party spirit he seemed to be underlining the loneliness of his position, Now, with a call to the ation in defiance of all party, prejudices, he manages to get a hear-Ing. The mere fact that be has unsparingly attacked the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Ex. chequer, the Foreign Secretary and others in their turn, does not prevent contemplation of the possibility of his joining the National Government. Just now the idea is scouted as a practical measure of political a@just= ment, but its mention arouses
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.