Mr. Asquith, who followed Mr. Lloyd George, spoke with admir-
erble good feeling and dignity. He made no reference to. the circum- stances in which he had retired from office, and immediately made it clear that he did not claim any right to be Leader of the " Oppo- sition," or even to lead the Liberal Party in the House. He had' only one object, and that was to give the Government. the benefit of his experience. In one sense he felt it a relief to be free of office, in- another sense he would not conceal his regret that he had been forced to leave his task unffnished. As for his handling of that task, he denied absolutely that his Government' had- failed in a " resolute and effective prosecution 'of the war." He was content' to submit himself to the iudgment of history. After reviewing his own. labours, he turned to the German peace proposal and described' it as " born of military and economic necessity." But peace would come only when atonement was made, and when treaties and the sovereignty. of public law were securely entrenched among the nations of the world.
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