We regret that Sir Austen Chamberlain will not himself sign
the Treaty in behalf of Great Britain. He has been ordered a complete rest, and we are not surprised at the nead for it. Lord Cushendun will naturally take his place. With Sir Austen not available no one need be astmished that the Prime Minister has arranged that, while he takes an absolutely necessary holiday, the Lord Chancellor should act as his deputy. There are very good reasons why certain senior ministers should not take that position. Let us say, for example, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer badly needs a rest after his labours with the Budget and his bout of sickness. Apart from the dignity and priority of his great office, Lord Hailsham's abilities have shown him fully capable of holding the trust. Unfortunately it prevents his going to Canada with the party which leaves this country to-day for the meeting of the Empire Parliamentary Association. Lord Peel_ will be their very competent leader in his place. We have to face the fact that every year the demands made upon the physique Qfi our Prime Ministers and their colleagues become more intolerable. They expect no consideration, but if . we merely want to get the best out of them, and not to find toughness being held as the quality most needed in a Minister, we must devise means to "conserve "_ their energies.
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