6: ED WARDIAN CARTOONISTS
‘In the Spring –’ When Lloyd George replaced H H Asquith (1852-1928) as Prime Minister in December 1916, Asquith and most other leading members of the Liberal party refused to serve in Lloyd George’s coalition government. Asquith remained as leader of the Liberal party but found it difficult to conduct official opposition to Lloyd George during the war. He was joined in the opposition by, amongst others, Sir John Simon (1873-1954), who had been Home Secretary under Asquith, and Sir Edward Grey (1862-1933), who had been Foreign Secretary. In the aftermath of the ‘Maurice Debate’ of 1918, in which Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice (1871-1951) accused Lloyd George’s government of misleading the House over the strength of the army on the Western Front in order to cover up a move to send British troops to Palestine, the Liberal party openly split into Lloyd George and Asquith factions. When Lloyd George ceased to be Prime Minister in 1922, he was forced to make an uneasy truth with Asquith and his allies. The resolving of issues would allow a united Liberal ticket to run against Stanley Baldwin in the election of 1923. 93 ‘IN THE SPRING –’ OR, SERENADING A SYNDICATE ROMEO ( LLOYD GEORGE ): ‘ OH - H - H LOOK YOU ’ – THREE JULIETS ! WELL WELL WELL RATHER HEAFY FOR THE PALCONY I ’ M THINK - ING ! AND WHERE IS MACLEAN TOO - OO ? I SUPPOSE THEY WILL BE SITTING ON HIM !’ signed with initials and inscribed ‘Almost an “Embarras De” Juliets! Romeo (Lloyd George) on arriving in the garden, finds the balcony almost overcrowded! Juliet (Sir John Simon – Mr Asquith – Sir Edward Grey)’ pencil, 15 x 11 inches Illustrated: The Bystander, 14 March 1923, page 612
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