New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-08
KING AND PUPPETS
The Guarantees Sett|ed-A Sur
render in Sight.
London. Auril %


action of the government is the possess
sion OF the royal guarantees. The crisis
came before the last dissolution OF Par
lament. The Prime Minister asked for
them; King George was reluctant 10
grant them, and suggested delay until
the coronation should be over; Lord
Knollys conferred with tho Prime MIN
lister several times. and after informing
the King that his father had said that IL
would be impossible 10 withhold the
guarantees in certain circumstances per-
suaded him to give assurances that hc
would create. II necessary, five hundred
peers II the Parliament bill were passed
by an adequate majority, and the gov
eminent appealed to the country during
December with that understanding.
This is the explanation given by a MEM
Der Of the Cabinet, and IL fits I'm with
everything that has happened since tho
elections The Primo Minister has taken
a strong. uncompromising lead, Mr..
Redmond has not been troublesome, the
coalition groups have stood together, tho
Opposition has offered strenuous but
hopeless resistance TO the Parliament
bill. and the King has been preoccupicd
In the preparations for the coronation
and the visits to Ireland, Wales Scotland
and India.
The situation would have been df.
ferent one ~ there had not been an
| I'm derat n dino o,.er tbo o-uoraptoas Tho
Prime Minister would have been AT tho
mercy Of Mr.. Redmond. there would
have been no cohesion among the coali-
ton groups. the Opposition would have
had definite policy. and the King would
have shown anxiety over the expected
crisis and have deferred the visit ~
India. These differences would BE- too
obvious to require reststement II there
were not persistent efforts on the Tor
side 10 misrepresent the situation. Tho
chatter goes on at Westminster and in
the political clubs and leader writers 70"
party purposes choose 70 assume tina:
there Is an irrepressible conflict between
Lords and Commons: and yet the pass
age Of the Parliament bill Is and has
been foregone conclusion since the gen-
cra elections following the guarantees.
There was, It Is true, possibility OF re-
| lection by the Lords on second reading.
but this disappeared when Mr.. Swift
MacNeill produced presidents for pro-
rogation for a day and for the immed'-
ate reintroduction Of the bill. There re-
|
may be brought about after the Lords
| have amended the measure. but this Is
rapidly vanishing through their inability
to agree upon a constructive scheme for
| the reform of the upper chamber and for
carrying into effect the referendum prin-
cple
The Opposition has taken full advan-
tage OF the resources Of obstruction In
Offering resistance to the Parliament bill
I in committee II has been we'll led by
Mr.. Balfour and Lord Hugh Cecil and
lawyers have been employed in prepar-
ing amendments and in multiplying OBJ
stacles 10 the passage OF the measure;
yet Unionists, even with the best experts
to advise them. cannot rival the Ma
tionalists Of the Parnell period as OBJ
structionists The will Of the majority
| inevitably prevails when the coalition
| factions are bent upon securing the
passage of the bill and arc not them
selves frittering away time I'm debate.
The Prime Minister has announced that
rho Parliament bill must reach the Lords
.,,1
reading before the coronation. The
pressure Of closure will be frightened and
| the cha lrTnan empowered TO select tho
amendments which he considers i'm
portant for discussion. There may be p
/ brave show Of resistance on the Cnlonist
side. but eventually the majority VIII
triumph. The bill. which was VIRTUALLY
submitted to the country In December
will be sent TO the Lords. This VIII be
| few weeks before coronation, when tho
colonial premiers are here for the M
perial conference and when the nation is
weary of constitutional polemics and
eager for political truce.
! What will he the effect of the menace
of the creation OF the five hundred pup
pets? That is the question which sober
minded Unionists are asking with
searching of heart The nation viii know
that the Kings consent has been OBJ
tanned and that he has no intention oc
becoming the QuiXotic champion of ths
Lords against the advice 81 the Primo
Minister In the burst Of loyalty on tna
approach of coronation tho Kings de-
! cisjon 10 follow the counsel Of his con-
stitutional mentor and TO keep out OF the
conflict himself will he generally APP
provod. The Lords will know that tho
! nation expects them 10 surrender with
out forcing the multiplication OF peers.
They cannot reject the measure on sec
ond reading without involving prorosa-
ton for day and the manufacture OF
hundreds of puppets. nor can they per-
sist In restoring their amendments aitep
! the Lsll has been returned 10 them WITH
out inviting the Prime Minister TO pro-
! ducc his peerage lists. In either event
the King would be placed IN an uhp'eas'
ant position during the coronation perlou'
! when he ought To have the support Oh a.
estates of the realm; and the peers them'
selves would be discredted through tho
cheapening OF their social prestige
The King. as master of the puppets
| controls the situation without making Z
single move himself lie Will naturally
/ Drosr - conference over the Lords