Meanwhile, Mr. Lloyd George, with his unfailing tactics instinct, decided
to take the field in the House of Commons against his critics, who were visibly banding themselves together. The result was exactly what might have been- expected. On Monday, there was a long debate on the Irish negotiations and Mr. Lloyd George enjoyed one of the greatest oratorical triumphs of his career. Only 43 members voted for the vote of censure, while 439 voted against it. The vote of censure was moved by Colonel Gretton and was seconded by Mr. Rupert Gwynne. Mr. Lloyd George made three main points. Objection had been raised to dealing with the Sinn Feiners at all because of their abominable record. " But with whom," he asked, " would you deal Y " He declared that there was nobody else to deal with. Sinn Feiners represented the vast majority of Southern Irishmen, and if there were to be negotiations at all it must be with them. The next point was his justification of secrecy. He expressed the opinion that if the Conference had been publio it might just as well not have been held at all. We certainly agree with him there. His last main point was that the only alternative to negotiation was a terrible and prolonged guerrilla war of which nobody would be able to foresee the end. In the course of his speech Mr. Lloyd George promised that the Northern Parliament should be given its full powers " unless something happens one way or the other in the course of the next few days."
