A PLEA FOR A RECONSTRUC 1 ED MINISTRY. [To the
Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—It was certainly most unfortunate that my letter should have been published in your issue of the 21st ult., having regard to the fact that the result of the meeting at the Carlton Club appeared in the same issue ! Since that date Mr. Lloyd George and Lord Birkenhead have gone. Mr. Bonar Law has become Prime Minister, also Lord Derby and the Duke of Devonshire have become colleagues in his Ministry, so the advice which appeared in your issue of October 7th has been taken. At the same time, I think you must admit that the accredited Leaders of the Conservative Party in the late Ministry were not included in the list of the " responsible politicians " who you suggested should convey to Mr. Lloyd George that he could best serve his country by resigning— with the exception of Lord Curzon, who, as far as I am aware, has not given any reason for remaining as Foreign Minister.
Under present circumstances I am as anxious as any of the " responsible politicians " that the Conservative Party be returned to power, as I am sure that the return of such Party with the alliance of the Coalitionist or National Liberals is the only safeguard to the Empire. However, I am still of opinion that until the leading representatives of the Conservative Party in the late Government had intimated that they were not in agreement with the late Prime Minister there was no real reason for his resignation, and I am confident that when the history of the recent crisis is written those Conservative members of his Ministry who resigned with him will be con- sidered infinitely more worthy than those who remained.—
I am, Sir, &c., S. W. LUARD. Binfield Manor, Bracknell.
Previous page
