WHEN LLOYD GEORGE ADMITTED THAT HE WOULD “LIKE THE JOB”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 5

WHEN LLOYD GEORGE ADMITTED THAT HE WOULD “LIKE THE JOB”

Telegraph.—Press Assn.—-Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 18. Amazingly outspoken pen-pictures of political heroes of the World War are given in a book entitled “The Whispering Gallery,” by art anonymous diplomatist, who is reputed to be a man with a European reputation. If accurate regarding a scene at 10, Downing street, early in 1916, the book goes far to explain the impotence of Britain in the early years of the war. Mr Asquith, Mr Lloyd George, and other Cabinet Ministers are discussing the war. “I am expecting great news to-night,” said Mr Asquith. “Yon always are, but it never comes,” retorted Mr Lloyd George. There was a faint “hush” from Sir Edward Grey. Then Mr Asquith continued: “Haig is confident things are moving at last.” “Probably they are— backwards,” snitl the irrepressible Welshman. “Thnt’s the crouch before the spring,” went on Mr Asquith. “IT’S ALWAYS KITCHENER.” “Don’t believe it,” said Mr Lloyd George. “People think we are winning because we have Kitchener. It’s nlways Kitchener.” There was n pause. Mr Asquith helped himself to a glass of port. Then slowly: “Yon speak bitterly. Are you jealous of Kitchener? I think ho is a big man.” “Six feet two and a half,” enmc the ready retort. Mr Asquith proceeded to say that Lord Northeliffo suggested Lord Kitchener for the job. “Lord Northeliffo now thinks him a back number,” retorted Mr Lloyd George. ' “What’s his latest game?” interposed Mr Winston Churchill. “Ask Lloyd George,” said Mr Asquith. The general laugh made Mr Lloyd George jump up and march to the fire- 1 place. “If you say that again, Asquith, I’ll lose my temper.” “WOULD YOU LIKE THE JOB?” (Received November 19, 5.5 p.m.) Mr Churchill: T wish you two wouldn’t- quarrel. Mr Lloyd George: I never quarrel, but I’m sick of this damned shillyshallying!

“Would you like to take the job on?” asked M r C h urchill quietly, “Of course I wo u 1 d,” cried Mr Lloyd George, without hesitation. Then, realising his error, he asked, “To what

job were you referring?” “The Premiership," said Mr Church-

“Oh, that!” said Sir Lloyd George. “I was thinking of something else.” The author adds: “We all looked at one another. Nobody spoke.” KING GEORGE. Another interesting passage is a curious pen-picture of King George. The anonymous diplomatist says : “Few men have been so appalled at the prospect of kingship. For years it lay like a shadow upon his life. He fought the blighting menace, hardly a soul outside his immediate circle knowing the bitterness of the struggle. The death of the Duke of Clarence meant the death of George’s best hopes, which included a trout stream, a moor, a wood, a select library, and a few friends. Except for occasional bouts of indigestion, his life was pleasant till 1891. Then came the crash, nnd a fight against his inherited yearning for privacy. Ho onee said: ‘I Can never be as popular as my father wns. I haven’t the right temperament,’ adding, wistfully, ‘but my son makes up for my deficiencies.’ “Authors are the people the King likes to talk to. He really dislikes horse-racing.” ROYAL BROTHERS NOT ALIKE. The writer considers there were

never two brothers less alike than the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. The curious temperament of the Prince expresses itself in many directions, particularly Tiis unquenchable eagerness to talk to everybody he meets—dustman or duke. The Prince’s friends address him as they like: “Old Bean,” “Old Sport,” are common phrases in his circle. The Duke of York has never flung himself in the stream of life. He prefers to remain on the bank and peer critically into th© depths. He is strangely unreoeptive, and dead to a sens© of popular feeling. In the war he would have made a good staff officer but a bad mess-mate, whereas his brother would have been a poor staff officer hut a good mess-mate. STORIES MUCH DOUBTED. (Received November 19, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. Th© “Daily Telegraph” says the accuracy of many of th© “diplomat’s” stories will be oalled In question, and concerning others a charge of sheer invention may he laid against him. Is he, one may ask, what he pretends to be?” Th© “Daily Mail,” in an editorial headed “Scandal of Faked Memoirs,” condemns th© stories as the “inventions of an ignorant man.”