PART I

THE TREATY OF PEACE

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ignorance play a part in the world of which hewho aspires to lead a democracy must takeaccount; that the Peace of Versailles was thebest momentary settlement which the demandsof the mob and the characters of the chief actorsconjoined to permit; and for the life of Europe ,that he has spent his skill and strength for twoyears in avoiding or moderating the dangers.

Such claims would be partly true and cannotbe brushed away. The private history of thePeace Conference, as it has been disclosed byFrench and American participators, displaysMr. Lloyd George in a partly favourable light,generally striving against the excesses of theTreaty and doing what he could, short ofrisking a personal defeat. The public historyof the two years which have followed it exhibithim as protecting Europe from as many ofthe evil consequences of his own Treaty, as itlay in his power to prevent, with a craft fewcould have bettered, preserving the peace,though not the prosperity, of Europe , seldomexpressing the truth, yet often acting underits influence. He would claim, therefore,that by devious paths, a faithful servant of thepossible, he was serving Man.

He may judge rightly that this is the best ofwhich a democracy is capable—to be jockeyed,humbugged, cajoled along the right road. Apreference for truth or for sincerity as a methodmay be a prejudice based on some aestheticor personal standard, inconsistent, in politics,with practical good.