New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-14
THE BRITISH CRISIS
Il Political Flprry-The Com
ing Storm.
London. March 2

sibiity Of the downfall Of the govern
ruent- Yet the whips on the Unionist
side had not been underlined and there
vas definite understanding between
the front benches that the government
would not be opposed II routine fnsu-
cial business. In place OF Z crisis Their.
was an exchange OF chaft and sarcssns.
and In the end every one laughed whsn
the Prime Minister'S motion was carried
without division.
II was q stage made political drama
which had been prearranged So as TO en-
able the King 10 make his usual holiday
journey and tina government TO ootaia
financial votes and renewals % borrow
ing powers. Veto and budget had been
deferred for q month. and the reform
Of the upper chamber for a year. and
b. common consent tns general elec-
tions, which nobody wanted. were pUt
off until June or July. il not until aU-
turnfi. There were Tnsnaess. s0rreuoers.
taunts, determinations, brayado in At
tack and resolute determination in de-
fence; but IL was essentially a sham
fight. conducted after q temporary ar
mistice had been arranged.
The newspapers had advertised I'll.
show at Westminster after being kept
in the dark and not knowing what was
likely 10 happen. On the Conservative
side there was a general tendeacy to
exa ggerate the difficulties and dangers
Of the government and TO forecast i'm
pending dissolution and ruin. On Tia
Liberal side the editors had not bean
taken into the confidence OF the Cabinst.
and with single exception, Mr.. SpenGer.
OF The Westminster Gazette" they
were heading guerilla warfare against
the government. While ministers dis
tracted with divisions OF their own kept
their secret TO themselves. Mr.. Lloyd
Georges intimate friends. Mr.. 01assing
ham, OF The Nation; DIR. Scott, OF
/ The Manchester Guardian and M
Gardiner, OF The Daily News" and M
Donald. OF The Daily Chronicle" di-
rected Radical policy, placed veto before
budget, dismissed reform OF the Lords
and accepted the conditions OF Mr Red
uond's ultimatum.
The only journalist who seemed so
know what was going on behind tbs
scenes was tbs writer OF the political
notes in The Times and the only ser
/ viceable ally IN the party press was MI
! Spender, and the right cues were with
/ held from him at the last moment, when
| the Prime Minister decided abruptly 70
/ change both tactics and policies. When
/ practical measures were neglected for
! informing and directing the editors a.
/ leaders of public opinion. II WIS not
! strange that the downfall @ the govern
ment was heraIded IN Alliance OF tbs in
teresting debate which ended without a
division.
! The main actors, after exchanging
/ condolences behind the curtain. were pre-
pared to enact their parts with a good
sense OF the theatre The Prime Minis
/ ter turned right about On his own track
with an air of gravity and ccmplets
! consistency. as though he had bssE
heading in one direction from the cut
/ set and there had been no dissensiens
either in Cabinet ar party. Mr.. Bslfour
chaffed him as pleasantly as he might
have done If they had beer dining to-
; gether in good company and were hav-
/ ing a friendly trial OF Wit, NJ. Red
mond roared and beloved about the
: guarantees with as much energy -
+ though Heme Rule aud the rights OF
I democracy were really hanging in the
/ balance, when, in reality. he knew that
T the Conserve tives had agreed 10 stand
/ by the government for = month ana
| that 2 premature eleetiop was TO be
avoided at all hazards Mr.. Austen
/ Chamberlain, Dir. Lieyd-Cfeorgs. Lord
Hugh Cecil, MIR Healy and 2ir- Gibson
49, ;~rt
/ and played 10 the galleries. When the
dinner hour came the farce was at an
end and everybody had been pleasantly
( entertained
/ The crisis had NOT existed except In
the minds os excitabie writers Parties
/ and factions had been playing With Il
and showing TO inclination 50 graphs
i with 1t seriously. when the flush Of *
I element over cratory and invectivs had
I passed members were voting and tramp
/ ing through the lobbiss on matters Of
humdrum finance as uonchalautLy a.
though there had never been q sassss-
ton Of Il fatelu moment of destiny in
the affairs Of empire.
( Having failed 10 obtain anything more
( than 4 ludicrous anti-ciimax ley their
/ first bit OF political IneIodrayaa. the cr'-
/ sis monEers are already fOrecsstins an
other momentous conflict IN ths Com
mons, To he followed b. a general cleo
ton. The earliest date assigned Tor II
is in April, when the resolutions re!1t-
ing to the Lords veto are under discuss
sion. IS this is the single question on
which all the available forces Of tbs
/ coalition can be concentrated, II seems
+ unreasonable 10 expect any thing more
/ serious than ii prolonged debate and a
majority approNimating 12t.
: If Mr.. Redmond Re convinced b. tns
end Of March that the government is N
/ earnest in its intention 10 obtain ssar-
antees for the enactment q Ia"
grounded upon the resolutions aud 20 re
/ sign office if it does not set them NJ
may be willing 10 vote for the old e1o-
I set. In that event il may be introduces
and carried immediately after the rese-
/ lutions are disposed OF by thc Commons
, If il be impossible tor the government
/ TO reach an understanding with him. u
may become necessary 20 accept the Is
sistance Of the Conservatives and 10 en-
act it after the land ana excise sections