THE RECENT POLITICAL CHANGES.
N APPRECIATION OF MP. AS UITH:
[The article which we priat below, and which has been called from the well-known Amstican weekly, The Outlook, gives, by the pon of Mr. Sydney Brooks, a charming character sketch of Mr. As quith, and throws into relief his tremendous contribution to the Empire daring the past two-and-a-half years of war. Sach, a widely-known writer as Mr. Brooks has done a real cervica by his contribution, for is in well that America should know, by one able to tell them, of the principles dominating ose who has been England's leading figure for almost a decade-past. The article in
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANUARY, 13, 1917.
war in
"* REUTERS."
: Meaning of the Change."
forward in British traditions, and the shareholders may be fully. sssured that Reuters as a world- wide sewa and political agency, will be safe in their hands, and will cot be used to. further any
speeches. Tasy are just as good ||ality has never been the invaluable | rather than through them; he is sa any public speaking can be agret that Gladstone's war. rather tos apt to trust to his |that has not behind it a genuine There ́hava ~been many" oo- unrivaled Parliamentary dexterity oratorical inspiration. They are oasions in the past eight years of as a means of evading a trouble. modele if c'caracas and his Premiership „_when Mr. | some situation and then to» per- precision; low speakers, indeed, Asquith has gained far more than saads himself that because he has. can pack so much into so few he has lost by having been evaded it it will trouble him no Reuters have during the past unworthy, sati-British, or selñsh words as Mr. Asquith; they are pitched în a minor key,-Oar more ; un a lawyer his preferences (werk entered upon's new chapter purpose," full of vigorous thought, of normal British preferencon in are all on the side of taking one in their history (asya the Observer; trenchant and sonorous diction ; ¦ normal times are for men with a step at a time, with the minimum of Droember 3) At a meeting Essentialy British..
admirably arranged; certain energetis moderation of of violenos to constitutions! on Thursday the- shareholders: "Reuters are, and siwaya karo they are
apon straks | speech and bearing. Mr. Asquith|ueaga, established customs, sud unanimɔnsly agreed to sell their been, an eLentially British stroke follows without hesitation and with direct | possesses this qua'ity as few men the precedents of pesce; some property for over half a million | institution,” said Mr. Roderick and compelling force; and yet have ever posseated it; and it thing je always counselling him sterling-to be precise, for £550,- Jones," and the governing idea they are se unmistakably not repeatedly stood out in the days to avoid making a decision to-day 000-to the Hea. Mark F. in all the mesɛures which have piquant if it can possibly be postponed till Napier, Lori Glenconcer, Vis- cu'minated in the transfer of the oratory a George Eiot's verne is before the
ecuat Peel, and Sir Starr Jame-ownership of the Agency_from_a not poery. The reasor, I think, contrast to the harangues and to-morrow. is that Mr. Asquith has himself |demestour of some of his col-
son. There will be no change in multitads of people into the too completely in hand, knows to leaguer. Vehemently as the Turies
shy policy or administration of | hinds of what "will to a consil M. Arquith ebowed these a nicety just what he is going to and the Protectionists and the
the great Agency, and the Chief, and, I believe, impregable- assay and bew he is going to say it, Irish Unionists might falminate attributes clearly enough before Mr. Roderick Jones, will coa private company has Lean de fin- and is never for a moment in against him, they at least prefer the war. They were conspicuous, tinne in that position," according itely to safeguard the Ageecy, danger of being carried out of red bim to Mr. Lloyd George or for instance, in his treatment of to a recently inaned statement, for the future, from any possibil
ity of its being captured by a57 For an Englishman the cable2 tials of lineage or means or social himself. The color and rhythm, Mr. Winston Churchill; end oss the Ulster movement organized "with enlarged powera."
by Sir Edward Carson. They despatches from London during position; and yet he has never the exaltation and abandon, of
who might attempt to influence the part few days had so familia: touched the imagination of the oratory are not for him. There beckle him in the House after ons have been, as one would naturally Though he is a young men, and person, or collection of persone, is something, indeed, almost or the other or both of his brilliant expect, not less conspicuous since only succeeded to the late Baron its operations, cleverly and in-
■ sound as to bring on almost an oantry as they have done, or
As-roused in it passion either of Mr. Arquithe air en a pabiic oharacteristic indiscretion that another type of leader in control, the tragis death of that accomp or even destructive of, British attack of homesickness.
mechanically impersonal about lieutenants had committed some the outbreak of the war. With de Beuter's chair leat year, after sidiously, in a manner bariful 10, quith Mast Go." "Revolt Against enthusiasm or of delestatiop-platform and when he rises to must' bevo jarred on no one the British nation would have lished but little known pablicist, I intereste. the British Premier." Cabine There is something of coldness in address the House. He seems nei ves more than on hie. Mr. accepted universal military servi- Mr. Roderick Jones has proved
"With its network { agencica Dissensions: Will Asquith R the popular conception of, and independent of all emotional Asquith war Daver "brilliant." ce long before it did, would have himself to be possessed of
and correspondents all over the eign ? "so ran the headlines attitude towards, the late Pre-commanition with his audience. He was quite content to be cat shut down on the drisk traffic exceptional talents, and daring globe, a That And below them were columns of mier; he is not one of the men, as I have often wondered, while shone by colleagues more restles instead of partially and by slow he has, by a combination of the control exercised from the and Bez itive completely and at stroke the short time he has held office machine, responding instantly to more or less ehrewd, more or less Lloyd George met decidedly is listening to him, whether he than himself or with a excited speculation as to whether whom you are violently for or would not speak eqazily well to taking manner on a public plat- enthusiasm a programme of en- apparently inexhaustible tact, might have become, under an
degrees, would have adopted with energy, determination, and
headquarters in Loadun, Rentere, this, the fifth or sixth, attack in violently against; even bis own force against the Prime Minister followera regard him with prid.20 audience at all or to one of form. But there was never Suny formed caɔnomy, and would by impressed the stamp
real doubt among those on the
salus, though probably not since the war began would sue respect, admiration, and esed, sad, if it did, who would implicit e nådenes in bio And yet, even as I write that, in-ide of things as to where lay now have arrayed itself down to personality. upon, and infused his
apparent, and British ownership, a the last able-bodied mao sad ibe spirit into, every branch of the the true sost of power and take his place? It was all, as I but unfailing adequacy, rather, I am conscious of doing him less
authority. His political opponents last able-bodied woman for world-wide organisation which gave menace to Imperial inter- have said, very familiar. We in than with effecties.
than justice. For in the past I never
dals, a wenaçe grave because not compulsory war work.' The fatal he has been esiled upon to
manifest to the general public ther were basily sasuring the
follows:-]
war.
ар
Bl}
broomsticks,
OF
of their stock amusementa was to
belire anything.
more
while
of
of his
The Reuter Method.
England hava lived on that sor indeed, think of him, and of his ! two and a half years I know of 'pretended to doubt it. For years words. "Tuo late," which have control, and with which he has either at home or abroad. F of diet pretty constantly in the relations to public. Beatiment no one who has stated the British | world that the Prime Minister was / had to often to be written as the been associated, mostly abroad, { tunstelș, the mesures now taken past two and a half yeare, We without also thinking of spother | C180 appraise the issues
render saything of the kind quite have been wronght up time and very great mao, like him a law. between Germany and the lies ers figurehead in his own finish to British enterprises in for the last twenty years.
in
Cabinet, that the real control of this wer might never have been' again to a state of high expect yer, an administrator, and s language more majestic,
offfin was in Mr. Lloyd written at all had the Prime The Agency, as everybody impossible. The ownership of ancy, ever changes in the Cabinet statesman of the bigbest compet more powerful, or more per-
Minister been a man of bigger come, was founded in London the Agency is to-day in a low and George'sor Mr. Churchill's bands, and in the Premiership. The ance, and yet, like him, somewhat linent then his. The war has obanges in the Cabinet, or some shut off from the innermost bearts not implanted in him the native and that. Mr. Aquith, besider imagination and greater driving by the late Baros de Reater's very strong hands, in the bande assurance anywhere to be found of them, have taken place. There of mea-I mean Mr. Elihu Boot, fire of elcquence that is of the being the shuttlecock of mare power and more skilled to read, father, Baron Julius de Reuter, of men whose names are the beat is to-day, as there has been for Mr. Asquith is not a bit more essence, for example, of Me, forceful spirits, was the obecquis and appeal to the fighting temper over sixty years ago. After a eighteen months and more, eparing then is Mr. Root of the Lloyd George's whole being. A one alsve of Mr. Redmond. And of the nation. It is the esence time it was converted into a that the high traditions of Renters We may venture the opinion national and non-party Govern-fass and Bourishes that democman possesses that gift by right th unde no doubt believed it, of the charge against Mr. A-qaith limited liability company, and will be maintained."
through Harrow and Oxford, that Mr. Raderick Jones's pre- ment, while in August, 1914. racies love. Both men would of birth or he does not possess it brokuse in politics people will that he has been too dilators and the late Baroo, after passing
| legalistic, not eufficiently resource-, Yet there there was a Cabinst wholly comprobably stand higher in the at all. Bat the great struggle
the lespa in the dark that have to control of the Ageros. Aboat is in itself a guarantee of this. posed of Liberale. No one could judgment of the anthinking, and his own great part in it have never was a mere fantastic mis fal, unwilling or unable to take aucceeded Biron Jalist in the secce at the bead of the Agency possibly have foreseen when the easily tickled mob if they had not wrought.upon Mr. Asquith until "pprehension.
be taken in such times as there, five rere ago the public were Amongst who know him be
for. war broke out that it would be no rigidly asohawed the artifioes, his speeches bare bron lit by a
and too slow to cut adrift from invited to subscribe, and readily has earned a reputation waged in December 1916, by the that most politicians cultivate glow and passion unfsit, or at any
I venture, indeed, to say that the notion that war can be ran
did subcribe at a premium, a integrity and etrength of parpore men who a bare, week ago actually ever to deteblation. Ons can rate unexpressed, before. Let there has been no stronger Prime by a debating society. Bence a considerable amount of additional which constitute a valasble annet formed the British. Ministry. As imagine neither man indulging me quote from what he said on Minister than Mr. Asquith since Cabinet much too large for quick capital for the company. This to Ruters. in all the belligerent lends, some in a beau grate Both are the second anniversary of the war, Gladstone's resignation no executive action. Bence a ten, brought in a large body of new men have unexpectedly collapsed deliberately undramatic and non-it is a fair sample of the Prime Minister, I mesu, more sure deacy to consider measures, not shareholders with the result that
of himself, more competent to from the standpoint of winning Ruters, beneath the touchstone of war, sensational as boman beings oan Arquith style:
strengthened We understand that no changes and others, notless unexpectedly be. You look in vain for purple Early in the war I quoted s impose his will, with a greater the war-which is the only thing, financially, became exposed to are bing made in the admini- have risen above themselves to patches in the career or the sentenes which Mr. Gladstone instinet for leadership, or with a too-nation cares about-bat from the danger inseparable from a tration or personnel of the Agency the full height of its demande. oratory of either. Both make the used in 1870. The greatest firmer grasp over polity and the stand point of whether or not state of affairs nader which the in any part of the world. Reaters think I am right in saying that mistake of doing things, or triumph of our time,' he said, administration alike. If there is good cars could be made out control of the Agency, always to-morrow and the next day will only one British Cabinet Minister appearing to do them, too easily. has been the enthronement of one thing Asquith never has been for them in Parliament. Esace, absolutely independent, might be the Renters of yet rday and was bolding last week the office With a slightly different tem- the idea of public right as the and never could be, it is a time-
too, hesitations, a lack of aurs,
have passed partly, if not wholly, the day before. At the head. be held at the beginning of the verament, Mr. Root's position in governing idea of European poli- serving politician. In the old grip, and a failure to impress the into the bende of any wealthy quarters in Old Jewry everything The Minister was Mr. A American public life would long tics. Mr. Gladstone worked all days of his Home Scoretaryship people that every ounce of ad individual or e rporation who goes ca exscily as it did. And the for a very good reason. For the qaith. Repeatedly assailed, de-ago have been on a par with his his life for that noble parpore.now nearly twenty-five years ministrative energy was being erstematically bought up
reason that, quite spart from the rided, criticised, and against anique capacition. Of Mr. A. He did not live to see its attain agc-when for a while he was the brought directly to bear on the widely scattered shares,
Mr. Napler's Proposal. fact that the administration and growing rolame of cariction qaith, as of Sir Babert Peel, mea. By the victory of the idol of labour, when he was problems of the war.
This gentlemen, the lees sur-the personnel throughout the that his temperament and train posterity may say that if only his Allies the enthronement of publie stretching all the powers of his
vivor, with Mr. F. W. Dickinson, world remain unaltered, the ing are not those that make him personality bed equalled his right bere in Europe will pass office in the cause of social, and an ideal pilot for a storm, he still performances he would have been from the domain of ideals and of industrial reform, and when Le Bat, in spite of everything, Mr. the agency's distinguished chief governing element in the eitas remained the head of the Britieb the
greatest of all British aspirations into that of corarete was filling the aution with a new Asquith has the very highest editor, of what might be called lion is the Bon. Mark N pier, Cabinet. But now has he gone? Premiere.
and schieved realities. What sense of its responsibilities, he claims on the gratitude of the the Old Gaurd Ruters, whose dominating idea, after his with Has a great Premiership closed As it is, the real Asquith, whose does publio right mean? I will none the less on three oracial British nation. He has stated, resolved to pat the agency once thirty years asseci-tion in dissension and defeat ?
praises are sung by his friends, tell you what I understand it to questions did not hesitate to stand as I said, the British case in and for all beyond the reach of Reuters as a director, and in later What has been the note of hi whom all children instinctively mean an equal level of opport up to labour in the country and language of rare mobility. He sny of the undesirable influences years as a chairman, se sal is cureer? More than anything delight in the man of quick, anity and of independence an to his political allies in the House has never once shown the smallest which otherwise in the fu are to preserve, Lo! to alter or else, I should say, tus note of Mr. vivid, and hearty emotions, of between small states and great of Commons when he was signs of nervousness or deapond-might endenger its integrity and obliterate, ibe identity of the Asquith's career is a consistent genial considerateness, of warm states, as between the work and convinced that the public interest enes. Eli courage hes bad the especially its national character. Agency; wae and is to guarantee capacity for rising to the ocession. and
A Esisby and solidity of a rock. Amid the ap-The upshot of Mr. Napier's deter the contioned and unfaltering. tolerent humanity-goes the strong; safeguarda resting demanded it. He has never, to my knowledge, almost anenspected b the upon the common will of Europe, squeezable person is precisely | palling anxieties and the grier- mination was that he and the observance, in the Reater cable failed in soything he has been general public and Lord Boo-and, I hope, not of Europe done, what Arquith in not. Lack at the one disappointments of the war other three gentlemen sazed services to and from all parts of called upon to undertake. One bery never surprised England against aggression, against inter record of his Cabinet from 1908 to the bas maintained an unfaltering presented a proposal to the Board the world, of those principles of gete, indeed, almost a seace of more than when he went bail for national coratousness and bad 1914. He presided
a front, always wool, siwaye master of the company, which the Board accuracy and strict impartiality monotony from a sarrey of his it that Mr. Asquith possessed faith, against the wanton 10sort Government unique in Britisk of himself, the very embodimeat felt bound to re.mmend ths which have distinguished the achievemente. As a boy be cap-qualities of heart even more in case of dispate to the use of samaks for the many sided energy of sturdy British strength. More-jshareholders to accept, and which Agency's intelligence kyslem ever tured all the school prisse; as a remarkable than his qualities of force and the disturbance of of its reforming vigor. He over, practically the whole man- Mr. Gerald Willisme, the director since the frst daye of its founda- youth be won the Balliol, took a band. The average man remains pesos; finally, se the result of it conducted a profound constitu-agement of Parliament, at a time who presided at Thursday's meet-tion.
The newspaper Press and the double fret, became President of to this day unconvinced. He all, a great partnership of nations tional revolution to a successful when parties were in a chaos of ing, so ally and convincingly ex- the Oxford Union, and carried cfinde in Mr. Asquith few of thoss, federated together in the joint issue; and in 1911 he faced and dissolatios, when new issues were pounded to them. We under-generul public will look in rain the Craven; a few years later. amiable and attractive weakness- parait of a freer and fuller life quelled the most surprising and forcing almost every day new eland, and, indeed, it was only to for any departure from the well- What, after a wholesome period offes and accomplishments that for countless millions who by sinister outbreak of social and alignments, and when not merely be expected, that Mr. Williams tested Reater method.
that use Cabinet Ministers bat the entire and bis colleaguer, the Hon. Ed. however may be looked for is a atraggle and difficulty, he was irresistibly engage the popular their efforts and their series, industrist discontent recognized as one of the most interest. Nobody dispates the generation after generation, ever threatened the internal theory and practice of Cabinet mand Parker and Mr. Gorge graduni suď oɔnsistent develop eff etive of English advocates; genuineness of his abilities or maintain the progress and enrich peace of the British Iden,
government had to be sacrificed, Grinnell Milos, afforded to Mement and expansion of the varî- has fallen on bin shoulders. I do Napier the most loyal saj part in cas services, so far as war com- in Parliament he attracted Gladfects to deny that he has amply the inkeritance of humanity." stone's storing notice with earned every scocess he has won. Those, obviously, are the worde But there is one set of valace not think think they could have carrying out what they and the ditions will permit, with the almca: his frat apesch. And it Yet nobody is really thrilled by of a mase of intellect and catare, in time of pesos and another and fallen on better shoulders. For shareholders recognised to be sol ject of meeting still farther the all been done witheal him. A somewhat hard, salf-ant without vision, not without a very difistent sok in time of war.; Mr. Acquith has not only a zieh patriotic andertaking of this time requirements of the Press and of
international the public. theatricality or self-advertisement, entered embodiment of all the empathy, bat-ho does not What a democracy needs, at the and varied assortment of Parliaf national and
"The interests of the Press of with no attempt to dazzle bis efficiencies; one whom it is feel it with his emotional side head of its affairs when it is mentary gifts and experienior, crisis. As one epsaker at the
the Empire," said Mr. Roderick contemporaries or foros their difficult to think of as ever having held severely captive to his brain. engaged in fight for sheer exist. can not only present a case to the meeting truly remarked:-- applause, and without the least been young, expansive, and They are impressive, but they do ence in a man who will take big, Boxee of Commons in the way "Mr. Napier has certainly Jones yesterday, "particularly on assistance from those advantages indiuoreet not without a touch not brill. They are weighty, risks and make sharp decisions, most likely to insure its success, shows, in this transaction, an the Imperial side and in foreign of birth, wealth, and social con of Oxford arrogance; apt to but they are not vital. I hope who will ranse and rely upon its but hee also the confidence and extraordinary insight, and be affairs, are the interests of Reuter, nections that in the England of treat stupidity as a first-class posterity will read them. But heroic potentialities, who will respect of the Assembly to a de- displayed not only great preci. You may depend upon it that we other man ap-ecce and energy, but above all I shall noi lon sight of that fact; the pre-war days, more perhaps fighting man, always at the top for myself I would far sooner mirror its martial soul. These grea that do than in any other country, of his form and able at any have beard Mr. Lloyd George are facetions which Mr. A-quith protches. His judgment, bis firmly believe that he has reted We have been, and are being, smoothed the path of political moment to bring all his powers handling the same theme in bis is by no means se competent to character, his intelleciaal power, mainly from patriotic motiver, greetly hand capped by the with. and legal ambition,
into play, yet somehow spoiling own incomparable style. For Mr. discharge as Mr. Lloyd George, and his prestige have been sarete with great unselfishness, in the drawal, the very proper with CLOSO which Beaters deal, of a large number of our Asqaith's career is sa fally a the effect of his triumphs by the Lloyd George znaners Pascal's He is getting on in years; he is that the country could not have great structure of his own rearing 18 dry and
1. ut men for military servios, unsympathetic self-test. You forget, when sitting past the time of life when a man do a without. For winning the repre-enia.?"
"Questioned" festerday by Over a hundred members of our Lloyd George's or John Burns's assurance with which he enters beneath him, that you are listen- still has a large reservoir of energy war, for inspiring the astion to he has made hur own way on bis the lists and the mechanical ing to a speech. You remember to draw upon in a crisis; there is keep to the heroic pitob, for real representative of the Observer vil sto at the front. Most of own merits; he might have stood regularity with which be routs his only that you are listening to s în him an inclination, not towards and consistens insight into 11e regarding the policy of the tuer **send long before abs alongside of the present minister antagonistamit is in such ways as man. You hardly ever remember indolences he is and, always has emotions of the people, for anda agency, Mr. Roderick Jones Co for ar and the ex-President of the" that the British public, so that when you are listening to { bưom a hard-worker-but towards, city bath in mathode sad in con replied that he could not do better That vwv night, and (ca da the Local Government Board swaar sban any other public in Me. Asquith; and it is this doing no more than is necessay captions, for moral leadership, that quote whas Mr. Gerald risted the process in arcy pos
■ product and representative of judging fits leaders, thinks of Mr. habitual self-repression that vary be has a natural relish for the foraming and contagious Williams, peking from the sible way. But, of course, is- that newer England in which Asquith.
largaly scorenta for the fact that isnt relazations of life; work energy Mr. Loyd George is the chair, hid said to the shareholders increases anormonaly shed.ffinally even before the war men were The deflency which I am the ex-Premier is Agroster with him a habit, bas it is not, better man, But the might, not when sulmiting Mr. Napier of introducing the improvements
in the carvice which ma being fadged and rewarded for trying to Wing ont-it is more figure in Parliament than in the so it is with Mr. Lloyd George, on that set and in every obcms to them :-- what they were and for what they readily felt than expressed-in, country, and that among the an instinct; he prefere, if he on, plot prove the better Prime The purchasers stand for sil: mapped out. Neverslaand --did, and not` for the non-swan: {palpable in Mr.
that is honourable and straight- jmprovements shall be me la!* Aequith's" maanon of the people ́his pereon- to fad, a way out of difficulties
bas
aver
Minister.
vercame into foror: