New-York tribune., 1910-02-14
THE BRITISH CRISIS
Responsibilities of Leadershis
Chances for Nisplay.
London, February 2,

litical game. A misplay in crisis ia
fatal. 1t is likely to be followed BY A
long run of bad luck. Especially is this
true when the cards have been dealt
afresh and the fortunes and hazards OF
the game depepd upon the first lead and
an adroit use of the Initiative. Both Mr..
Asquith and Mr.. Ballour need to be on
their guard when an election has been
held in extraordinary circumstances on
many complex questions and there ara
conflicting interpretations OF the general
results Each is a match for the other
in political dexterity, and neither can
afford to leave exposed a yulneraba
point of attack.
The initiative belongs to the Prims
Minister, who retains office with a con-
siderable ma ajority of the Commons in
favor of the rejected budget and An
even larger one against the interference
of the Lords with the traditional rights
of the representative assembly Tho
dissolution of the last Parliament waz
forced upon him by the action of the
Lords in suspending the budget because
il was so socialstic that the direct judg-
ment Of the country upon 1t was con-
sidered indispensable. He did not ap-
peal to the country on the budget itself,
but rather on the unprecedented claim
of the Lords to control the Commons
and their continuous practice OF blocking
Liberal measures. He strongly empha-
sized in his speech at Albert Hall the
determination of the government not 10
hold office unless assurances should bs
of he 4 1~6v
would be limited by statute
Sir Edward Grey summed up the situ-
alton in this sentence: For us, we In
tend it should have this consequence
that after the struggle is over We should
assert forever the right OF the House ot
Commons to be uncontrolled with regard
to finance, and We shall assert for tbs
future the right to conditions, IS be-
tween the two houses of Parliament.
which will make IL possible for a Liberal
government not only TO exist, but 10 hold
Office on fair and equal conditions"
On this fundamental question Of re-
storing the financial control Of ths
House of Commons and Of TeadJustins
the relations of the two chambers m
general legislation the Prime Minister
can count upon the full strength Of thu
coalition majority, supported as II IS hy
q clear majority in the popular vote. nos
only Of the United Kingdom as a whole.
but also of England, Wales. scotland
and Ireland taken separately some ot
the Nationalists may break away from
the coalition On the liquor section Of the
budget, but there will be no seessslcns
g. wis
high ground where the government Is "a
fntrench itself at the opening Of the ses-
sion is clearly marked out. but the gen
eraI scheme of strategy to be adopted.
the comparative tactical advantages &C
the Campbell -Bannerman resolution and
o. d constitutional reform measure -
comprehensive scope and the adT1sa~
hility of operating against the Lords BE-
fore or after the budget is passed are
controversial details
Drastic courses are proposed by ad-
xanced Radicals for pushing tne con-
stitutional question uppermost- One 3
the immediate resignation Of the gov
eTnment, if the safeguards for the honor
and efficiency of the Commons arc WITH
held The implication is that the author
itv of the crown is TO be invoked Win
iufexibIe determination 10 make an end
of "the rebuffs and hunil1atIons OF tne
past" If the King declines either 70
create 213 peers or 10 restrict the num-
her of summonses TO the really service
able members Of the upper chamber, Or
to exercise abruptly the prerogatIvs OF
the crown. the coalition ministry IS To
retire. The King will naturally ooject
as a constitutional. uon-partisan SOW
ereign to being dragged into q Sotlu''@
between parties. especially When tii9
country has not rendered judgment err
phaticaIIy and without reserve between
! the contestants Anything like coercion
| of the sovereign viii he resented by MS
/ 1ovsI subjects. and the drastic methods
will rccoiI against those who nave re-
| course to them.
Moreover. the resignation - the MN
listers voufd be a confession that tneF
were running away from a conflict IN
which they had been left by the peopis
i'm the stronghold of power If Nir- bat-
four were to decline to take office NJ
Asouith would take up the work WIN
impafred force II the TDionist ieadeF.
were TO accept the responsibility OF
forming an alternative government ~
would regain the power Of initiative an"
dissolve Parliament. with excellent pros
poets for converting a formidable miho'-
ity into Il big majority ManifcstF '
government. with a coalition majority o.
12f on the question Of the Lords Veto
will not he justified in resigniuS oui'7
until il has exhausted its resources lV'
carrying out the viii Of the people l.
will betray the confidence Of the NATION
and abandon the cause Of represents1N'
institutions if it scuttIes out Of ohics
ignominously.
Sir Edward Russell has suggested lha@
the control Of the purse is the power ii
reserve which ministers can employ SUI
cessfuIly in this emergency instead =.
introducing the budget afresh he ~'ui'
have the government insist upon haVin'
their grievances redressed before gram
ing supplies. There is pIausibility IN H'
argument that they throw away tle''
only weapon if they send up the buds''
to the Lords before obtaining a Seu'
ment of the veto question. The l'Sl0"
reply is that while the Lords have co'"
peiIed q dissolution BY hanging up t"'