New-York tribune., 1907-01-20
TOPICS UNDER DISCUS
SION IN LONDON.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune
ICopyright. 1907. by The Tribune Association. !

London. Jan. l9.-The Prime Minister does
not hold Parliament out Of session He keeps
his own state secrets and welcomes brilliant
flashes Of silence from his colleagues. In ad-
vance Of the Kings speech the question of
supreme Importance is the government method
Of disciplining the Lords, who have enabled the
leader Of the discredited opposition 10 save his
own Education act by defeating the new bill.
NJ Birren has spoken Bristol without throw
lng much light upon the problem The main
grievances OF the Free Churchmen can be re-
dressed by a financial bill less drastic than Mr.
Gladstones procedure IN overriding the Lords
veto Of the repeal OF the paper duties and the
abolition Of army purchase. That is less i'm
portant than the discovery OF a practical method
OF managing the House OF Lords and carrying
ou- The VIII Of the democratic electorate The
retiring member Of the Cabinet is the only one
who takes up the relations OF the Lords and
Commons. II is not clear whether the Prime
Minister has encouraged him TO start the dis
cussion or whether he felt entirely at liberty in
his valedictory TO his supporters at Aberdeen
10 introduce the most urgent question OF the
cay. Mr.. Bryce's speeches have commanded
more attention than any previous utterances
from him. This is proof that his full measure
as a statesman had never been taken here until
his appointment TO the Washington embassy.
His method OF converting the House OF Lords
into q truly representative chamber Is on the
lines originally proposed by Lord Rosebery. He
discussed II in an academic way without citing
precedents for IL The Legislative Lords repre-
sentug both parties would follow the analogy OF
the law Lords and the constitution. The upper
chamber has been often regulated by the crea-
ton OF life peers and the inclusion or exclusion
OF the bishops by act OF Parliament The Cab
met changes are still deferred until February,
wiki a stronger probability that Winston
Churchill must wait even longer for promotion
10 The Cabinet The Colonial conference viii
give him the centre Of the stage for a season
COLONIAL CONFERENCE TOPICS.
The conference VIII be limited both IN person.
nel and range OF subjects. Australia and Can
ada viii be treated as federated commonweslths,
the individual states colonies not being rep
resented either by their premiers or agents
general II will be attended by the premiers
Of Canada. Newfoundland. Australia. Cape Col
ony, Natal and New Zealand. The federation
operates 10 reduce the representation. The pro-
gramme is not vet disclosed, but the expediency
of creating imperial council will probably be
the chief number. Colonial preference Will not
receive encouragement from Downing Street,
even II the premiers insist upon dragging II In
for discussion.
The London press has announced that the
American government viii propose resolution
IN favor OF disarmament at the Hague congress-.
and viii be supported by the British government
and Japan. There are no official disclosures,
but the natural inference Is drawn that Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Root want TO
have a full discussion Of every international
issue and are willing 10 accommodate the Brit
ish government which is deeply interested in
The question OF reducing the cost OF fleets and
standing armies Certainly every country would
benefit by an international agreement for limit
ing the construction Of battleships. When so
revolutionary an experimental vessel as the
Dreadnought upsets all the calculations Of naval
designers. radically improved Dreadnoughts
may be expected in America, Germany, France
and England in the next three years The
unduIy rapid reproduction Of turbine battleships
for the navies OF the world viii be wasteful
policy While the Prime Minister is markedly
sympathetic 10 the cause OF reduced arma-
ments there are no signs that the Admiralty
has abandoned its principles Of power. The
naval operations next month VIII include ma
nuauvres OF the Channel Mediterranean and At
lantic fleets, and three cruiser squadrons about
seventy vessels. including thirty battleshps. will
he under the command Of Sir Arthur Wilson.
The Admiralty is also undertaking the construc-
tion al Portsmouth Of a dock. 100 feet wide,
at a cost of s., 10000 for the accommodation Of
the biggest battleships.
The promptness Of Admiral Evans in sending
ships to Jamaica is favora bly, commented upon
by the English press The presence OF a British
feet would have been preferred by old fashioned
Englishn,en. bu; the helpfulness OF the Amer
lean navy is welcomed a fresh pledge OF
international gooc feeling.
NEW THEOLOGY DISCUSSION.
The Jamaica earthquake has taken the wind