New-York tribune., 1909-10-10
KING As pEACEMAKER
OUTLOOK IN ENGLAND.
Hopes of Solution of the Serious
Political Crisis.
tBy French Gable to The Tribune.l


London Oct EFT IS not likely that the secret
history Of the Balmoral negotiations viii be
known authoritatively until the end OF another
generation. The King. as the most successful
diplomatist Of Europe. has the advantage OF
working silently and of being protected by
etiquette and good manners from publicity and
premature disclosures. The Prime Minister'S
relations with the sovereign are absolutely con-
hdentiai. and his Cabinet associates are not ad-
mitted behind the veil. He is the Kings CHIEF
adviser, and while he remains in Office speaks
for the Crown as well as for the government
ana the party. A serious divergence of opinion
between them would naturally be followed by
resignation. There are no signs that this act is
impending. Such evidence as can be obtained
from David Lloyd-George's and Winston
ChurchiIPs speeches and from the persistent
efforts TO send the development bill and the
budget 10 the Lords indicates that the Prime
Minister stands for the Crown in defence OF the
financial rights Of the representative chamber
This arms him with a fresh reserve Of authority
In dealing with the budget
A dangerous irnpasse has been created by the
settled purpose OF a considerable body of peers
10 reject the budget and the equally infeXible
determination of a majority in the Commons 10
force an appeal 10 the country on the veto
powers Of the upper house. A conciliatory
statesman like the King will naturally desire to
avert constitutional conflict between the
houses and find a modus vivendi by which an
appeal to the country can be made There has
been no conference between the party lords, as
there was between Mr.. Gladstone and Lord
Salisbury in 1884, but without doubt the King
has sought to minimize the risks of momentous
struggle into which the extremists were rushing
recklessly. There has been neither compromise
nor counterplot, but it is highly probable that
the houses and the nation will be extricated
from 9emoralizing situation.
solution is not likely TO be proclaimed pre-
1naturely. but may be revealed in the course Of
a few weeks Il is not Yet clear how the unman-
ageable peers can be brought under discipline,
but II may safely be assumed that the ministers
cannot take less than the budget as il leaves the
Commons. II is little less than mystery how
a general election can follow the passage Of the
budget through the Lords without the plain i'm
plication that dissolution has been dictated by
the privileged chamber. but unless the judgment
Of the best experts be seriously at fault there
will be an appeal to the country in January
after the exclusive power Of the representative
assembly over finance has been demonstrated.
The results are likely 10 satisfy the moderate
men rather than the extremists of both parties.
The government viii get the budget itself in
place Of the advantages Of position in an appeal
30 the country against the Lords, while the OPP
position will get a dissolution on the budget.
with tariff reform as alternative system Of
finance. without the issues being complicated
with the constitutional question Of control OF
taxing powers. While these conjeetures may be
unset by an unexpected accident or the vagaries
Of partisanship in either house, pacific settle
Enent may be reasonably looked for the result
of the Kings intervention in the crisis in a
high-minded and wholly constitutional way.
The Commons has ordered a weeks recess
before completing the report stage Of the finance
bill. which is now under revision by the drafts
men. The first stage OF the conflict in the Lords
viii be reached on Thursday on the second read
ing Of the development bill, which is based upon
the budget still in the Commons. The Unionists
already taking advantage of the govern
ment concession regarding the Irish licensing
duties and Mr.. Redmond's electioneering mani
festo. They are reviving the agitation against
Irish Home Rule, coupling il with socialism as
the objective point Of attack.
The air is filed with signs OF dissolution. The
end may with startling suddenness next
month, but with the King as peacemaker, ad-
Vising his advisers as Queen Victoria used TO do,
the prospect of a reasonable settlement, salts
factory 10 moderate men, has frightened
l. N F