New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-23
premier CONTROLS
LIBERALS POSITION
| PREcARloUs.ss
Nationalist and Laborites
Shoe Signs of Willingness
to Yield.
nv Csaie 10 The Tribune.

London. Feb. 2e.-The tension of the.
political situation has neither been re-
Taxed nor increased. Premier Asquith's
fnfexibie stand against guarantees ana
his consistent presentation OF the budget
and the bill for the reform of the House
Of LORDS as integral parts of the govern
sment policy have not been modified, nor
has John Redmond swerved from his III
.timatum that supplies must be Withheld
until the Nationalist have definite as
'surances that the veto bill can be en-
acted after its rejection by the upper
house
George y. Barnes has spoken for the
Labor party and proclaimed the strong
.prererence OF trade unionisn1 for The
abolition of the second chamber. This rs
q direct attack on the new policy OF
the government by. which changes In
the constitution OF the House of Lords
have been substituted for the direct
suppression Of the privilege Of absolute
veto. which Mt. Asquith advocated al
Albert Hall and Sir Edward Grey. David
rjovd-G George Winston Churchill and
other ministers upheld during the re-
In expressing his disappointment over
The Prime Minister'S speech. but was
less defant and more reasonable than
Mr.. Redmond had been. The situation for
1.-THE government WAS no worse after he
had spoken, and there was q practical
suggestion that second budget might
he deferred until the final passage OF the
veto bin should be guaranteed
. The debate was continued with IN
creased acfimony during the evening
II. z. Smith delighted the Unionists with
q slashing attack on the ministers, IN
(which he defied them TO prove that there
was an actual majority for the budget
William O'Brien supported this view by
.proclaiming the hostility. of the, hide
;pendent Nationalists to the budget,
haunting Mr.. Redmond with having
gone only half way across the
Rubicon, and saying that the only
useful function Of Parliament was
Ito end its existence as speedily as
POSSIBLE This rather insolent warning
10 Mr.. Redmond that the independents
rad Ireland with them and wanted an
election at once was helpful TO the gov
eminent. since il revealed the strength OF
the whip which Mt. Asquith holds over
Mr. Redmond in the menace of a speedy
dissolution of Parliament.
Austen Chamberlain's amendment TO
the address in favor OF tariff reform will
restore party lines and will temporarily
unite the Liberal-Labor coalition, yet the
situation remains critical for the gov
eminent, since MI Rednond's followers
demand q change of tactics or some
definite concession which will enable
them TO boast that they have forced
reconsideration OF policy. Moreover, a
strong body Of advanced Radicals are
out OF sympathy with the ministers and
are clan1oring for an early dissolution in
preference to the passage of the budget.
The method Of proceeding against the
Lords by resolution is not popular with
the rank and file, who perceive that
there has been a desperate struggle
within the Cabinet and that feeble
compromise has been hastily patched up.
= Altogether, the government is in a
: most precarious condition and the coun-
= try is in q sorry plight. with its treas
S IVY short by f2o,G00,O08 OF q years
taxes and no authority within sight for
authorizing tax levies and providing for
naval construction, regular services and
pensions