TIRED OF OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1922, Page 4

TIRED OF OFFICE.

Major Lloyd George says his father is tired of office, and is only going to the Genoa Conference because he felt it his duty to bring the nations together. Few men throughout England’s long Parliamentary history have had to bear such burdens as have fallen to the lot of Mr. Lloyd George since he assumed the Premiership in the critical days of the Great War, and the wonder is that he has had the strength of body, mind and will to carry on as he lias. Really it is not surprising that he is tired of office. The long and dreadful dark days of the war, when he was called upon to lead and hearten the nation, and to maintainthe integrity of the Entente itself, must have taken heavy toll of his physical and nervous resources, great as they undoubtedly were. Then came the problems of peace, and they have proved to be as difficult as those of war. . First the Peace Treaty, and the League of Nations, then the repeated modifications of and alterations to the Treaty, and America’s rejection of the League of Nations scheme. At the same time he was confronted at Homo with the problems of demobilisation and repatriation, followed by industrial troubles that almost wrecked the economic fabric of the country. Concurrently he was wrestling with the Irish crisis. “Why don’t you settle the Irish question and get it out of the way?” asked an American friend of Mr. Lloyd George one day. “My dear fellow,” replied the British Premier, “the Irish question comes seventh on the list of problems that are before our Cabinet to-day. The success of the Washington Conference was due probably as much to Mr. Lloyd George as to any other statesman, though he was unable to be present. The Genoa Conference is a natural corollary of the Washington Conference, and may have just as important results in the settlement of European economic affairs as the other had in regard to ■the limitation of naval armaments and the preservation of peace in the Pacific. That is no doubt seen by Mr. Lloyd George. Hence his desire to see it through. It is natural, perhaps, that there should be a good deal of restlessness amongst members of the Coalition. The country has been passing through a period of unparalleled depression, unemployment has been considerable, and relief on a huge scale has bad to be given in the form of unemployment pay. The Government is blamed for this condition of things, but it is difficult to see how England could have escaped from the turmoil and unsettleraent that follow in the wake of all wars. The price has to be paid, and in this ease it has been i> particularly heavy one. Old England is to-day beset with more difficulties than ever, and requires the services of her greatest statesmen to pilot her through safely. There are none who stand higher in the Empire’s estimation than Mr. Lloyd George, and if he is compelled by weariness of the soul or body to retire from active participation in the country’s government, it will be an inestimable loss. In another year smoother waters may be reached, and his retirement would not then be such a serious matter.