2 NOVEMBER 1934, Page 6

The appearance of another volume of Mr. Garvin's " Chamberlain

" next week, following the appearance of another volume of Mr. Lloyd George's Mt mairs last week, marks a conjunction of luminaries which lends pertinence to a literary crystal which I have long treasured. The author is Mr. Garvin ; the subject, Mr. Lloyd George ; the date, 1922 ; the occasion, the Genoa Conference ; the text, as follows : " One Soviet delegate remarked that Mr. Lloyd George was obviously a typical Nonconformist. • We said By Cromwell they are right.' The great indomitable creature measured the situation with an even heart and a cool narrowed eye. Then he took a course which, as I write, is staggering the wreckers."

Unfortunately the wreckers, despite their staggers, won.