New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-30
BRITISH PARTY WARFARE
Growing indications of Failure OF
the Conference.
FEDERALISM OPPOSED
A Decisive Session Next Week
on Home Rule and Other
Leading Questions.
TRy Cable 70 The Tribune ]


London. Oct. Authenticated YER
sions of the concordat remain uncon-
vincing Pacificus is so persistent in
minimizing the Unionist resistance 10
Home Rule and supplying working
schemes for an enlarged conference that
he is now suspected Of being political
trimmer, bent on gaining another year
for his party leader rather than a conf
dental adviser Of the King, interested in
securing a statesmanlike settlement OF
complex constitutional questions. Old
Tory squires are hurting out the truth
that they will not have Home Rule IN
ireland on any conditions, and the ad-
vsnced Radicals are reverting with re-
newed ardor to the policy Of having an
other election on the veto issue as soon
as possible.
The optimists are right in declaring
that the most important controversies
in British politics can be settled only IN
one way-by an agreement between the
parties in a series Of peace conferences
The veto question comes first, and unless
that can be adjusted by an arrange
ment for a joint session Of the houses
with the majority in accord with the
government of the day. or some other
expedient for enabling the Liberals to
enact party measures when they nave
the country behind them, an enlarged
conference for the consideration of Home
Rule. a federated system for the king
dom, the reform of the Lords or I'M
perial federation will be futile.
There is no evidence in Premier As
ouith's or Austen Chamberlain's speeches
, this week that the conference has agreed
on that fundamental issue. If an ar
rangement be made in the course Of the
next fortnight there will be q short ses-
sion Of four or five weeks and peace
/ full coronation year; otherwise general
election will come on prematurely, with
the Unionists at a serious disadvantage
since they cannot reasonably expect tc
obtain the majority requisite for tariff
reform.
The relied prophets are the expert
enced election agents. Their appeal for
/ a larger. conference comedies the proba-
bility OF a Unionist defeat unless there is
! a general concordat. Apparently the
! ground must be cleared or tariff reform
/ is doomed.
Federalism, however, will be the IN
settling idea for the general electorate
accustomed to the close cooperation Of
the four sections Of the kingdom
/ Unionism, under which the transfer Of
half the Irish land from landlords Il
tenants can be set against ii, is the more
practical and safer policy. 'Punch's'
cartoon representing a demoraliZed Johr
Bull in a kilt, a shamrock embroidered
waistcoat, a Welsh hat, English tor
boots and a shillelah. portrays the ma
/ tional prejudice against David Lloyd
! Georges new-fangled scheme of fed
eralism.
When the truth about the conference
is known, the cIeverest tacticians Of TIT
kingdom may be discovered manpuvrinl
against one another for good position!
and eagerly welcoming "A renewal Of STRIFE
after futile peacemaking. Meanwhile
the entire Unionist press. except ''Th'
/ Daily Telegraph" is advocating an en-
. larged conference for settling the Irisi
as well as other questions, and the Lib
eraI editors are more or less bewildered
A J. Balfour is apparently hesitating
while Premier Asquith speaks more con
fdently than ever.
/ The conference will reassemble mex
week for a decisive session. but the lead
ers will await the result Of the Walt
hamstow election before committing
themselves. That is a large working
class community, which is constantly
moving a Liberal will probably be re
! turned, but by a reduced majority or
the old register Walthamstow is nc
likely either TO hasten or retard III.
negotiations for a prolonged poIitica
truce