Lord Derby, in a frank and interesting speech at Manchester
last Saturday, appealed to the Prime Minister not to go to the country just yet. Sir George Younger, he said, had Mr. Cham- berlain's support for his objection to an early election. Lord Derby based his appeal not on the need for a reform of the House of Lords but on the desirability of completing the Irish business, the Washington Conference and the agreement with the European Powers for the restoration of trade. He depre- cated divisions in the Conservative ranks. Dislike of Mr. Lloyd George was not a sufficient reason for a split. After all, the Conservative leaders shared Mr. Lloyd George's responsi- bility for what had been done by the Government. Lord Derby said that he owed Mr. Lloyd George personal allegiance and he could see no other man who had such authority in foreign policy or who could bring about concord in Europe. The Conservative and Liberal wings of the Coalition must work together loyally for a real policy of retrenchment and economy. The time for parting or coalescing would come hereafter but it was not at hand.
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