The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-12-09
EUROPEAN
NEWS AND VIEWS

London, Dec. 10.--When the history
of the present campaign is written, it
will go on record as one of the most
sensational election fights Great Brit
ian has witnessed. The liberals have
completely recovered from the shock
caused by Leader Balfour's announce
ment that the unionists would be will
ing to submit tariff reform to a refer
endum, and are doing their best to in
tensify the dissatisfaction felt by those
of Mr.. Balfour's party who do not
agree with him, in the hope of put
| ting the unionists to utter rout. The
unionists are planning on gaining thir-
| ty.two seats in order to reduce the
| governments coalition majority below
! fifty. In the last parliament the gov
eminent had coalition lead of l24
votes.
Home Secretary Winston Churchill
is proving himself the most untiring
| speaker of the campaign on the gov
eminent side. He has no equal, ex-
cept one allow for the difference in
age and strength between him and
| Sir Edward Grey and complete the
comparison in that way. Mr.. Church
| i'll makes from five to six speeches
every day, travelling from city to city,
without thought of the personal incon-
| venience it causes him or the demands
its makes upon his energy and
strength. Frequently he answers in
the last speech of the day an address
made by al member of the opposition
in city fifty or sixty miles distant,
and which has not been given to the
press beforehand. In order to get a
| copy of these speeches, Churchill has
his private stenographers copy them
then translate them while making the
trip between cities in automobiles pro.
| vided especially for the purpose.
There are those who predict the
| resignation of Premier Asquith in the
event of the government being return.
ed with coalition vote of only fifty
or sixty. In that case A. J. Balfour,
the opposition leader would presum-
ably be invited by the king to form a
new cabinet. Everything would again
be thrown into the melting pot, in
such an event, for the only course
open to Balfour, who, by the way was
prime minister in 1902-5, would be an
| other appeal to the country. The
whole situation has assumed some
thing of comic aspect to outsiders,
but there is nothing humorous in the
feelings on either side in the great
campaign, and Great Britain has never
| been more deeply aroused, political.
| ly.
Many of the great Indian princes
who had reserved extensive suites in
| London hotels for the coronation have
| cancelled these reservations since
King Georges announcement of his
intention of journeying to Delhi in
1912 to hold a coronation durbar.. The
event will make Lord Hardinge's term
of rule among the most memorable
of vice royalties. King George likes
the idea from purely imperialistic
| standpoint, but he also firmly believes
that the precedent he intends to es-
tablish will have great effect upon
the popular unrest which of late has
been assuming such menacing proper
tions.
In the meantime Italy, also is pre-
pairing for great celebration next
year. The occasion will be the cele-
bration of the fiftieth anniversary of
the proclamation of the kingdom. Tur-
in and Rome will hold great exhibi.
tons to commemorate the event
the former and present capitals of
the country rivalling each other in the
magnificence of their fetes. Much at.
tention will be given to the competi-
ton for rowing and motor boats. The
chief event" will consist of a trip
from Turin to Rome by way of Venice.
The so-called cruise" will be divided
into three Independent sections, the
first for rowing boats only, the second
for small motor boats, and the third,
comprising the trip from Venice to
Rome, for large motor boats. The
competition will be under the direction
of the Italian Touring club, which has
already in hand a large sum to be dis.
tributed in prizes.
bill has been introduced into the
French chamber of deputies for the
preservation of monuments and other
objects possession historic and artis-
tic value. The communes will be held
responsible for the guardianship of
such property The owner of a build
ing or object classified as of historic
or artistic interest will not be allowed
to sell 1t or give 1t away. except to
some body of men representing a pub
lie establishment, such as a museum,
or to the state. Hitherto owners of
such property have sold 1t with the