V

REPARATION

133

Crucifixion of Anti-Christ and the assumption by-Germany of the British National Debt.

It proved an irresistible combination, and oncemore Mr. George's political instinct was not at fault.No candidate could safely denounce this programme,and none did so. The old Liberal Party, havingnothing comparable to offer to the electorate, wasswept out of existence. 1 A new House of Commons came into being, a majority of whose members hadpledged themselves to a great deal more than thePrime Minister's guarded promises. Shortly aftertheir arrival at Westminster I asked a Conservativefriend, who had known previous Houses, what hethought of them. "They are a lot of hard-facedmen/' he said, " who look as if they had done verywell out of the war."

This was the atmosphere in which the PrimeMinister left for Paris, and these the entanglements hehad made for himself. He had pledged himself and hisGovernment to make demands of a helpless enemyinconsistent with solemn engagements on our part,on the faith of which this enemy had laid downhis arms. There are few episodes in history whichposterity will have less reason to condone,—a warostensibly waged in defence of the sanctity of inter-

1 But unhappily they did not go down with their flags flying verygloriously. For one reason or another their leaders maintained substantialsilence. What a different position in the country's estimation they mighthold now it' they had suffered defeat amidst linn protests against the fraud,chicane, and dishonour of the whole proceedings.