One might have thought that the chairman of the Com-
mittee would at once have sharply reproved Mr. Lloyd George for what was so obvious a threat, and have reminded him that the business of the Committee was to conduct their inquiry both thoroughly and impartially, and that they must not be deterred by considerations such as those urged, i.e., the giving pain to prominent persons, from asking any questions that would elucidate the subject of their investigations. Indeed, one might have expected the chairman to go further and to point out that though the Committee might, before Mr. Lloyd George's remarks, have decided not to touch the debate of 1900, it was now essential for them to do so lest they should appear to have been influenced by the language he had employed. Apparently, however, the Committee were so taken aback by Mr. Lloyd George's threat that they forgot to administer to him the reproof which he had deserved, and which we cannot help thinking would at once have been given to a humbler witness who had spoken in similar terms. We must add that Mr. Lloyd George appears to have awakened to the nature of his action, or to have reflected on its significance, for in the witness chair on Monday he attempted to explain, and in effect to withdraw, his threat.
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