New-York tribune., 1908-11-22
TRIUMPH FOR ASQUITH
AIDED BY BOTH PARTIES.
4 ereenlent on Education BaH =
Strong Foreign Policy.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune
ESopyrigh: 1905. by The Tribune Association

tSopyrigh:. 1905. by The Tribune Assoc'ali0-i
London, Nov. 21.-Tarih reformers are hoe
erieving over the prospect of a settlement OF
the education wrangle, nor will they be dis
pleased IL the licensing bill be compromised oy
similar fexbiity and got out Of the way. Iney
want to concentrate public attention upon tne
fiscal issue and leave Mr.. Balfour no excuse Ior
talking about other questions. They are Te$AuS
formulating three tariffs, one for the colohieS'
a second for foreign nations at MINIMUM IaeeS
and third for countries which require retaha-
tory reprisaIs. The Unionist whips are less
cheerful for they apprehend diminished Liberal
majority if the education and licensing questions
are settled prematurely-
Premier Asquith apparently will carry one
compromise and possibly both He has the ad-
vantage of being on the right side of the two
moral questions and of having the powerful sup
port of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the
Bishop Of Southwark, two Episcopal statesmen
who are acting in a broadminded spirit of toler-
ance The passage of the licensing bill by the
Lords even in amended form, seems little less
than a miracle of grace when partisan interests
are dragging the Unionist peers in the opposite
direction. but 1t may be brought about the
education settlement seems certain since Ihe
bishops and free church leaders have come TO
an agreement and the Roman Catholics can be
conciliated by special grants to their schools.
Mr. Runciman has managed the negotiations
with remarkable tact, yet Mr. Asquith's dexter1ty
is even more conspicuous. He has left nothing
.undone to strengthen the coalition with the Eps-
copaI bench the appointment Of the new Arch
bisbon OF York being a brilliant stroke, yet he
has not alienated the Nonconformists. whose
essential grievances are redressed by the educa~
tion compromise. 1t is a fine exhibition of high
politics with morality behind It.
haS
curing heartily IN Mr.. Asquith's naval poIcy
and Sir Edward Grey's diplomacy. The two
nation standard has raised protests from radical
Journals against the inclusion either or the
American or japanese navy In comparative ex-
hjbits The Unionist view is expressed by Inc
Spectator" which says that friendship has MOTH
ing TO do with It, and that the single issue Is
the maintenance absolute and abstract, OF the
standard of invincible sea power. British dlp4o-
macy. with sea power behind it, now has the
support of both parties without a note Of CEN
sorious criticism II is not liberal but British
diplomacy. and Sir Edward Grey is conducting
It with consummate ability. There is absolute
unity and non- partisanship here, in contrast with
faction, bitterness and disunion in Berlin. and
there are practical results. The Balkan sl'ua-
ton is improving and British diplomacy COM
nands confidence everywhere as disinterested,
peaceable and trustworthy. Neither the new
reign in China nor the Berlin readjustment pro-
viding that the German Emperor must first
consult his ministers before taking the world
into his confidence through the press affects the
orderly DEVELOPMENT of enlightened diplomacy
bera I'M F.