The Washington herald., 1911-07-30
PARLIAMENT Is
SUDDENLY CLOSED
. Continued from Page One.

bilities has been averted. Had Earl Grey
elected to disregard the advice Of the
premier and declined to dissolve Parlia-
ment a crisis such as has arisen in Great
Britain by the Tories and the Liberals
would have been the result, and con-
fiict between the representatives Of the
Crown and the people would have fol-
lowed.
Prime Minister w. S. Fielding made
the announcement OF the dissolution fol-
lowing a cabinet council of three hours.
An unusual feature of the situation is
that Premier Laurier assigned to his
finance minister, who negotiated the reci-
procity pact, the duty of making public
the decision on dissolution. 1t is the
first time in half a century that the
premier himself has not made the an
nouncement of an appeal to the coun-
try.
The decision came as the result of a
conviction on the part Of the ministry
that It was hopeless to look for vote
on reciprocity under existing circum-
stances. The past week the opposition
has made It manifest that no vote would
be permitted Under the rules, which ad-
NIT of interminable debate, they have
stood up speakers who drawled away for
hours on all sorts of dull and uninter-
esting topics.
Lord Grey Forced to Act.
Two days ago the premier resolved up
on dissolution. Then came the difference
between the premier and the governor
general over the question of dissolving
before supplies were voted. Last night
Laurier took the bull by the horns and
called upon the governor general with his
word of advice that dissolution be pro-
claimed Immediately. There being no
other resource of Earl Grey In the cir
cumstances, he surrendered.
The cabinet met this morning TO hx the
date. At 12:45 o'clock the meeting ad-
tourned, and the premier, coming from
the council chamber, met the newspaper
smilingly and asked:
what news have you for me. GENTLE
men?" ;,
I'VE are looking for news from you,
was the reply.
.'weIl. Mr.. Fielding probably will have
some news for you," said Laurier.
"Do you wish to make the announce
ment?" asked Mr.. Fielding.
The premier nodded.
gentlemen, Parliament is prorogued
and dissolved said Mr.. F1eidhs
abruptly. voting will take place on
September ~.
The meeting of the new Parliament
will be delayed a few days In order that
the new governor general, the Duke OF
Connaught, may be here for the event
He is scheduled to reach Quebec on Oc-
tober 12, II may fall out, however, that
the new body will not assemble before
October IA or 10
Premier Risks High Post.
With the step taken to-day, Premier
Laurier has staked the existence Of his
and, in fact, has put his poiitt-
cal career in the balance, in his endeavor
TO carry out the agreement entered into
with the government at Washington.
In the campaign which will now en-
sue the issue OF close commercial rela-
lions with the United States. as against
4 commercial barrier bounded by high
.ariff wall. will be fought out. This is.
sue will be made clear in the fight which !
8 to come.
For twenty years, with the tender
shifting from one side to the other, efforts |
have been made to bring about reciprocal
trade relations between the two nations. |
rhe United States government. after hav- |
ing repelled Canadian advances on sew |
eral occasions, has now become initiative. |
Minister Borden, who led the opposf-
ion to the reciprocity, has made his stand |
On this platform:
"I oppose reciprocity because It will de- |
,troy the hope Of reciprocal trade pref
.rences within the empire; because Its
tendency will be to disintegrate the Do
ninion, to separate the provinces, TO
heck intercourse and commerce between
he provinces and between the East and
he West, and because, II carried to It's
ogical conclusion, 1t would lead to COM
nercial union, and commercial union
would inevitably end In political absorp-t
ion.'