At a time like the present, when the country's mind
is set on moderation and the Left-Centre or Whig ten- dency prevails, there is no one who represents the nation better than Lord Grey of Fallodon. Proof of what we say is to be found in the admirable speech which he made at Alnwick on Monday in support of. Mr. Runciman, and in which he dealt with " the old Coalition." The context shows that he meant, thereby, Mr. Lloyd George's Administration—the Administration which contained Mr. Lloyd George's faithful followers, Mr. Churchill, Lord Birkenhead, Lord Balfour, Mr. Chamberlain and Sir William Sutherland. His bogy in politics, he declared, was that he was " afraid of the old Coalition coming back again."
" He was very sure Mr. Lloyd George's sword would be exercised after the election, perhaps not immediately, but in no very long time, against any Government of which Mr. Lloyd George was not a member. He (Lord Grey) had never accused the Conservative Party of a desire to snatch a Party advantage in driving out the Coalition, or of committing a crime against the nation. He thought the new Government were approaching the subject of foreign affairs in an unostentatious, straightforward manner, which led him to hope that foreign affairs might again become, as they were for many years, a non-Party question. He would like to see an independent Liberal Government in power, or, failing that, an independent Conservative Government."
It was characteristic of Lord Grey's fairness and common sense to give so good a testimonial to those opposed to him from the Party point of view.
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