New-York tribune., 1910-02-21
LONDON NOTES
The Best Fighter-A Duel
The ChancelIor's Second.
J.opfIon February 2.

Mr Chamberlain could nave followed hrs
own inclination he would often hare
cen in his place at Westminster dur
ing the last two years. He would not
have attempted 10 speak, but ne vas
often fascinated BY the idea OF TevisitiDE
the scene of his triumphs and watching
the progress Of debate. His physician
and his devoted wife have invariably
dissuaGed him. because they dreaded the
effect OF the excitement which his return
would have caused in the House-ths
prolonged cheering. the Sffectlonaie
greetings from old friends and the strain
upon his powers of endurance
AS the opening OF a new Parliament
has approached he has come up from
Hiebburv to London. and has been aux-
ions 10 appear before the Speaker and
"a take the oath That has seemed 10
HIM little enough to do when his loysl
supporters have returned him 10 PsE-
lament without a contest or election
eering Of any sort
There has been talk bout Mr.. Cram
berlain-s return as e Cabinet minister
an honorary post like that OF Lord
Privy Seai-when his party Tesains the
stronghnIds of power. II has been urged
that while his health will not allow him
10 resume his seat on the benches of the
Commons he may be able 20 attend cab
iret meetings and 10 give his party the
fun benefit Of his judgment and coun-
sci. II is not likely that Mr. Chamber
lain will be willing to hold even Cab
met sinecure unless he can take his raTr
in debate and tramp through the iobolss
in important divisions At present hs
must remain outside Yet disabled "a
he is. with faltering lips and feeble
arm. nc is still the lion hearted leader.
who knows no such word as defeat
During the recent canvass his vas ths
clearest election address on the Union
ISL side, and lie watched every detail .,
controversy. neEleCtins no opportunity
for advice OF warning, encouraging can
didatss by scores OF letters and tete-
grams. and scarcely ending drawn bat
tie before he was preparing for another
conflict.
Would you have the government cut
within six months il you were m Par
lament" The Morning Post inter-
I'd trv." was the quick Response, a smile
ilfurlining the veterans sail youthful
face. He will persist in trying a.
though he cannot himself face the Cn-
stable coalition at Westminster, and h1s
war; tactics viii he adopted without
Doubt by Unionist5 generaIy-ths poi'cy
of abstaining from intrlsucs with lrish
and Labor factions and waiting for ths
government TO take the initiative and 20
fall out with it's allies
The Cabinet feuds have been lighted
up afrcsh by the disappointing result or
the general election. These arose pr
1nariiv over naval policy. and facr-o1a-
feeling was strengthened and embIrtered
BY vagaries Of democratic finance pro-
posed by the Chancellor OF the ET-
chequer- Some of Mr.. AsqUith's associ-
ates were scarcely on speaking terms
when "Limehousiug' was introduced oy
Mr.. LIoyd-Georse and continued -
Newcastle. Mr. Churchill had SUP
ported warmly the forward policy. and
Lord Darlington. Lord Loreburn and
MIR Buxton had been in sympathy with
il: but Sir Edward Grey, Lord Wolver-
hampton, Lord Morley. Mr.. MckenHa.
Mr.. HaIdane. Mr.. Burns and Mr.. Har-
court had regarded il with suspicion and
coIdness. while Lord Crews, Mr.. Glad
stone. Mr.. Samuel, Mr.. BirrelI and Nr.
Runcfrnan had been non-committaL
A crisis was narrowly averted when
3ir. Lloyd George chose the inopportuna
moment OF the Prime Minister'S visit %
BalmoraI for violent attack upon the
peers. The Chancellor. having the most
influential Liberal journals behind him.
declined 10 modify his electionssriuE
methods and the Cabinet was divided
into hostile groups, with Mr. Master
man, Mr. IRE and other ministers Tn the
moro advanced section. There was
temporary aFmistice when tho Lords. ~
rejecting the budget, enabled the d's-
tracted ministers 10 unite on the con-
stitutionat issue. HoStilities have -
opened after the PyTrhic victory. which
may speedily be converted into disaster
Who is 70 be the winner in this pre-
liminary trial Of strength VIII II h-
the Prime Minister. supported By q large
majority of his Cabinet associates ~
the Chancellor. with the Radical press
beating the drum for him and the Labor
and Irish factions raIIyius to his sup
port? The fortunes Of the government
hang upon this political duel. II the
Prime Minister cannot enforce discipline
and direct strategy and tactics anioH@
his own staff officers. how l. he 70 keep
command over the coalition maJorItT.
with its rebelIious Coutingents2 Hi7
supremacy must be established lH us
own household before ne can hope 20 o.
tain mastery of d most perplexinE ana
anomalous situation. The most deter
mined efforts have been made b. 'i'
Chancellor's partisans IN the press ana
i'm politics to force the Prime Minister {"
take up the veto question IN advance 81
the finance bill. although nianifestly L
is an innpracticable course
Nr Asduith has an easy method "r
r-o,,ine that he Is the authoritative
leader Of the coalition Let him carry
ont the procedure announced III his Al
herr Hall speech and it viii DC done
The budget was 70 be first IN order and
afterward the constitutional issue. X
on. question be taken up Is settled by