DEATH OF LORD OXFORD

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1928, Page 2

DEATH OF LORD OXFORD

PASSING OF GREAT LIBERAL LEADER. (Australian «fc N.Z. C’ablo Association.) LONDON. Feb. It. The Earl of Oxford and Asquith 1 dead. Telegrams were pouring into the house all day. including messages from all prominent European statesmen. The Earl of Oxford and Asquith, K.G.. ilt Bedford Square, W.C.; formerly Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquith, K.C.; was Prime Minister and first Lord ol the Treasury—succeeding the late Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman —from April. 1908, to Dec., 1916; aged 75, a York- ( sliireman ; educated at City of London School, went with a scholarship to Balliol ; followed up a brilliant career at Oxford bv making an enviable reputation at the Bar; entered Parliament in 1886; relinquished a fine practice when appointed Home Secretary in 1892; afterwards he returned to the Bar. Married, secondly, Miss Alargaret Tenant, daughter of the late Sir . O. Tennant, Bart., .in 1894. Alade vigorous attacks on Air C hamberlain s policy. 1903-5; Chancellor of the Ex- _ chequer, 1905-8; introduced Old Age Pensions and the Licensing Bill, 1908. f When receiving the lion. Oxford degree D.C.1.. he was' presented as “a distinguished alumnus of Oxford, and a powerful advocate. But as a politician, even more, if possible, than an advocate, he had proved his distinction, having been selected while still young by Mr Gladstone—that prince among statesmen—for one of the high offices of State” ; Lord Rector ol''(■ laspow Uni- . versitv, 1905 ; Lord Rector of Aberdeen. ( 1908; Elder Brother, Trinity House, ( 1909. Succeeded in forcing through _ both Mouses, despite tin* most streuumis opposition, the Parliament Bill of ] 1911. abolishing the veto ol the House of Lords; introduced Home Rule Bill, , 1912. Completed eight consecutive j years as Premier in April, 1916. Pre- ( seated with the freedom of Alorlev, his native place. Offered in Alarch, 1914. certain suggestions on the Home Rule question, after private “ conversations ” with Air Bonar Law. Became Secretary for War, “ for a time at any rate,” at the end of Alarch, and was returned unopposed for East Fife. Mas succeeded at the War Office by Earl Kitchener. Formed in Alny 1915, a Coalition Government, . retaining the Premiership. Visited in June the British and French headquarters, and again in July. Delivered notable speeches ir the Guildhall on the war. AY as present at the Allies’ Conference in Paris, March, 1916, proceeding later to Rome. Alore than once visited the front. His brilliant eldest son, Raymond,'was killed in action. Sept., 1916. The Coalition Ministry resigned in Dec. 1916, Air Asquith declining an honour offered him oy the King. Delivered Romanes Lecture, on the Victorian Fra in 1918. Defeated at the General Election, Dec. 1918. His daughter. Elizabeth, married Prince Antonio li-ihesco. April 30, 1919. Elected Al.l • for Paisley. Feb., 1920. The publication of Airs Asquith’s Autobiography created a literary sensation in 1921, and was followed by a visit of the authoress to the U.S.A. Mr Asquith presided over the Universities’ Royal Commission in 1922. In 1923 published an annlvsis of pre-war events. Re elected for Paisley, Dec., 1923, but was defeated in October, 1924. Visited Egypt in the later months of the year. Raised to the Peerage as Earl of Oxford, Jan. 26. 1925. Delivered first speech in House of Lords on Alar. A PCS. Received on May 11, the 1* reedoni of the City. Made K.G., -hwe, 1925. Huddersfield’s Freedom was conferred in 1927. Appointed member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. 1926. Resigned Liberal leadership Oct.. 1926. Elected High Steward of Oxford, l'eh.. 1927. Has published volumes on Parliamentary Experience, and a selection of speech as. HIGH TRIBUTES. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.in.) LONDON, Fob. 15. The Earl of Oxford and Asquith’s remarkable vitality in the light for life surprised the doctors, who expected the end at any time oil Monday. His death was most peaceful at 6.50 a.m. today. Lady Oxford maintained a bedside vigil till the end. His daughter and his four sons were also present. Lady Oxford insisted on sending her own telegraphed intimations to the King and Air Baldwin. Viscount: Cecil, in a tribute to Ear Oxford, says:—“He was a great and good man. His death lias lmt a gap unfillable by any man alive to-dav. He never claimed for himself the intuit that belonged to another and indeed not always the merit that belonged to himself. Thus in war time all merits of his administration wese a tribute to others and all failures to himself, hut he never complained. There may have been other men who grew to positions more admired, hut 1 doubt if any had been more loved. Air Ramsay MacDonald states:— “Death marks the closing of the chapter in our Parliamentary life. He was the last of what the Victorians meant by a ‘great Parliamentarian.’ He was a man of leisure, culture, formality, dignity and catholicity, lie was a great figure. Rt. Hon. Clynes says:—•‘‘His memory will bo honoured not only for his fine record of public work and high Parliamentary achievement, but also for his rare attributes of personal character.” PARIS, Feh. 15. Tlu\ Press pay a long tribute to Earl Oxford and Asquith, with special emphasis on his dominating part in Britain’s entry into the war. “Upon his shoulders fell the crushing responsibility of plunging the Empire into the war,” says the “Excelsior.” ‘lt was he who took the momentous decision for which alone the Trench people should how in respectful homage and gratitude.” Lord Reading states:—“He was a great gentleman, an outstanding figure in great events, dominating the part lie took in the entry into the war and the many measures in pursing it will never he forgotten. He was a singularly fine, noble character, with complete freedom from vanity, jealousy, pettiness, and all the forms of self-seeking.”