THE PEERS' CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 5

THE PEERS' CRISIS.

APPEALS FOR SURRENDER. UNIONIST LEADERS ON FUTILITY OF FIGHTING. UPPER HOUSE POWERLESS By Telecraph-Press Association-OonyrUM (Rec. July 26, 10.10 p.m.) London, July 26. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, in a letter to Lord .Newton, says: "1 do not di-sire to intervene in the affairs of the Upper House, but 1 think a majority of tho Lords should support Lord Lansdowne. 1 agree with tho advice Lord Lansdowne has given his friends. With Lord Lansdowne I stand and with' Lord Lansdowne I am ready, if need be, to fall.'

"The present situation is grave and even alarming, not only because wo are in the power of an unscrupulous revolutionary Government, bnt because tho real character of the peril is obscured by a controversy concerning tactics.

"Tho crime of .the Government is that by a gross misuse of tho, Royal prerogative they bavo made the. Second Chamber powerless. They have imitated Cromwell without his excuses of genius."

I'ighting in any ett'ecth-o sense, continued Mr. Balfour, was impossible, and tho action of those refusing to follow Lord Lansdowne did not resemble any serious military operation and did not require the exercise of any military virtue.

It would bo a misfortune if the present crisis left the House of Lords weaker than the Parliament Bill makes it, aud it would be an irreparable tragedy if it left the Unionists a divided party. CABINET'S INTENTIONS. SOLID BATCH OF 350 PEERS. PREDICTION BY "THE TIMES." (R«c. July 2s, 11.10 p.m.) London, July 2G. "The Times" remarks that the Unionists are mistakeh in believing that the Ministry's powers with regard to tho creation of Peers are restricted.

Tho Cabinet, it declares, is in favour of the creation of 350 Peers if resort is made to the Royal prerogative.

KING REMAINS IN LONDON. ' UNIONIST LEADER RECEIVED. (Rec. July 26, 10.10 p.m.) London, July 26. Owing to the political crisis, King George will remain in town and the Royal visit io Goodwood has been cancelled indefinitely. His Majesty yesterday granted an audienco to Lord St. ■ Aldwyn (Chancellor of tho Exechequor in tho last Salisbury Cabinet).

MR. ASQUITH'S SPEECH.. THE NOTES PUBLISHED. Br Tclccraijh-l'rcss As9orii)iion--Cotirrl(hl London, July 25. A comparatively small body of members was responsible for the disorder in the Commons. The majority of Unionist's in tho lobby strongly deprecated and condemned the personal discourtesy to Mr. Asquith.

Notes of Mr. Asquith's speech were afterwards circulated to tho press. Tho speech declared that tho Government had not been indisposed to' accept safeguarding amendments, but the Lords' amendments substituted a measure already rejected by the electorate. It derided Lord Lansdowne's amendment to Clause 2, giving a joint committee power to exclude Bills raising issues of great gravity. Such an amendment amounted to rejection.

The statement concluded by detailing the precedent .of 1832, and argued that tho advice given to the Crown, which tho Crown had accepted, was warranted by constitutional principles. There was nothing derogatory or humiliating in a great party admitting defeat. "They have only to convince their fellow-coun-trymen that t'hey are right and we are wrong, and they can repeal the Bill, believing that tho chance of a satisfactory issue May thereby bo improved." '

DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE HOUSE.

London, July 26. The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith), on entering the House of Commons to-day, was wildly cheered from tho Liberal benches. Mr. Balfour was received with Ministerial "boo-hoos." Lord Hugh Cecil, on rising to put a question, was greeted with an uproar lasting for five minutes. * "AN ORGANISED INSULT." PRESS COMMENT ON THE "SCENE." London, July 25. The "Daily Telegraph," commenting on tho scene in tho Commons, says it looked like an organised insult to Mr. Asquith. "Tho Times" says it is lamentable to find Lord Hugh Cecil tho ringleader in Parliamentary rowdyism. Tho "Daily Mail" declares that Mr. Asquith has destroyed at a blow the balahco of forces which made tho British Constitution tho admiration of the world. He has exploited the worst section of the nation to set up a dictatorship. A WAITING POLICY. LORD ROSEBERY'S ADVICE. i (Rec. July 26, 9.5 p.m.) London, July 26. Lord Rosebery, in a letter lo "The Times," says he is personally uninterested in the amendments to tho Parliament Bill,. parties being what they are, but it is impossible for a Government which is determined to mako a great change as a mere party measure to accept them and it is impossible for tho Opposition to enforce them.

Fighting to tho end would merely mean tho creation of a vast number of Peers. Abased and stricken as tho Houso of Lords is, its further humiliation is possible and to that humiliation will be added tho consummation of impotence, for tho House of Lords will bo compelled to walch with folded arms tho passing of every moasuro the Government mny choose to impose. This is all the lenders of tho forlorn hopo can achieve. Let them rather resolvo that when the next 6wing of the pendulum places them in power their first work will be the construction of a strong and ellicient Second Chamlior. They will not hnvo to wait long, for when tho country is faced with the naked despotism of a Singlc-Chambe? Government it cannot fail to make an effort to bo free. LORD LANSDOWNE'S ADVICE. TEEIt-S URGED TO DESIST. London, July 2.j. Lord Lsnsdowne, Unionist Leader, in the Ho\jv» of Lords, ia a letter to the

Peers, advises tlicm to desist from furthcr opposition (o tho Parliament Kill. otherwise tho creation of new Peers may overwhelm tlio present Hon;c and paralyse its future action. Lord Lansdowne in a circular to tip Opposition Peers asks them whether they are prepared to support his policy. It is estimated that a hundred and thirty Peers opjwscd to Lord Lansdownp and fifty members of the llouso of Commons will attend the banquet to Lord Hnlsbury. Lord Londonderry supports Lord Lansdowne, on the ground that otherwise, a respite of two years would bo lost, which could be used to tight Homo Rule. SUPPORT FOR LORD LANSDOWNE.

THE lIALSBURT BANQUET. (Rec. July 26, 11.10 p.m.) London, July 26. The Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Ripon, Lord Minto, Lord Alvcrstone, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and Lord Northcliffo havo intimated their intention of supporting Lord Lansdowne. The promoters state that tho banquet to Lord Halsbury is not a demonstration against Mr. Balfour. The speakers at the banquet will include Lord Milner. MADNESS TO FIGHT. J MR. LYTTELTON'S OPINIONS.

London, July 25. Mr. Lyttelton, who was Secretary for Colonies in the Balfour Administration, in a letter to "The Times," says it would surely be madness to start a contest destined to be long and stubborn by conceding to their opponents a majority in the Second Chamber, and reinforcing their majority in the Commons.