23 APRIL 1921, Page 3

Lord Derby, addressing the Junior Imperial League last Saturday, avowed

himself a faithful Conservative. " Con- servatism was the backbone of the country." The party was old, but it was always receiving new blood. " Have not we taken in Mr. Lloyd George ? Or has he taken us in ? " He welcomed Mr. Lloyd George as the newest recruit to the party. He had the greatest admiration and gratitude for the Prime Minister's services during the war, and was glad that " he had found heaven " in the Conservative camp. Lord Derby's blunt way of stating the facts is infinitely preferable to the political make-believe of which we have far too muoh. It should expedite the return to honest party politics, without which the constitution cannot work in a normal fashion.