New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02
ANCL0-FRENCH ALLIANCE
FAVORED BY UN|0N|STS
British Liberals Oppose It as
InimicaI to Good ReIa-
tIons with Germany.
C0NSCRIPTION MAY RESULT
Premier Asquith Retirement
and the Accession Of Winston
Churchill to His Place
Freely Predicted.
lBy cable 10 Tho Tribune.

freelV fre0lCteo.
(By cable 10 Tho Tribune
London. June 1.-Assiduous efforts arc
eeinR rnade in certain quarters 10 brinG
about ~ Anglo French alliance. but the
proposal is not taken At all seriously in
oficial circles Such an alliance would
Of course DESTROY at once any chance Of
maintaining good relations between eng
land and Germany. and for this reason
II is not desired by the British Foreign
Once.
Liberals who arc anxious 10 cultivate
closer and friendlier relations With Ger
many cannot find words strong enough
20 condemn the suggestion, which really
ennlnates from that section OF the Union
1st party which succeeded I'm overthrow
ing 4. l. Balfour and putting Andrew
Eonar Law in his place Is leader.
Ever since the Morocco crisis there
hae beer decided split between the two
great political parties on the question Of
Foreign relations. Liberals now want
This country to be on equally good terms
with France and Germany. whereas the
Tnionist aim is an anti-German alliance.
This is significant in view Of the posi-
bility that the next general election will
bring the Unionists back To power.
The Liberal press. in its anxiety TO
weaken the understanding with France.
keeps pointing ont that an alliance be-
tween the two countries must involve
Consumption for Great Britain. but there
js no doubt that such a contingency
would he welcomed by a great many
people here who maintain that Lord
Haldanes territorial scheme has been
tried and found wanting.
Time Table" for Debate.
The committee stage of the Home Rule
hill is down for Tuesday next. when the
House Of Commons resumes after the
Whitsuntide recess. but it is probable
that the consideration Of the bill clause
by clause will not be begun until June
II. The interval will be filled not merely
by pressing forward the necessary bust
ness Of supply. but by paving the way
fer the committee stage Of the Home
Rule bill by passing a comprehensive
"guillotiDe' resolution. euphemistcally
described as time table
Ministers have had under considera-
lion various expedients for keeping the
committee stage within reasonable time
limits including the kangaroo closure
end fixing a day for closing the commit
tee stage. leaving the House to deal as
IL likes with the clauses in the interim.
II is thought now. however, that 1t would
be better TO set up q time table before
taking even the first clauses, and allot
specified number Of sittings TO the vari-
Gus sections of the measure, proceedings
which the Cnonists, Of course, will
strenuoUsiy oppose
Premier Asquith and Sir Edward Grey
had decided at the beginning Of the ses-
sion to give the House of Lords another
opportunity 20 pass the naval prize bill,
which it threw out last year, but it seems
unlikely now. however. with all govern
ment time heavily mortgaged. that the
Prime Minister will be able TO give effect
TO his original determination. A drastic
"ruillotine" scheme might facilitate the
progress Of the measure through the
Commons. but the Cabinet hestates to
follow this course. believing that 1t
would provide the Lords with a badly
needed excuse for again rejecting the
bill.
Peersee for Asquith?
The early withdrawal Of Premier As
ouith 10 the House of Lords Is now ac-
cepted as an absolutely assured certainty
and it is not at all unlikely that he will
at the same time reinquish the leader
ship OF the government and the Liberal
party. Mr. Asquith smiles at these re-
curing rumors but they are known to
have good foundation. He has carried
such Q tremendous load during the
strenuous years which have marked his
successful direction Of the Liberals that
IT is a wonder his health has at all sur
vived the strain. His physicians have
frequently advised him 10 seek q tenn
porary rest so that he may give his
splendid vitality a fair chance and ex-
tend his political life for the good Of the
country
Mr.. Asquith has proved a Moses TO the
Liberals during time Of upheaval which
called for unusual powers of suasion and
action. Neither the great Gladstone nor
the witty but 'therwise mediocre Camp
bell Zimmerman could have solidifed the
mixed coalition elements as Mr. Asquith /
has managed TO do. Therefore, II the
Liberal Labor Irish alliance is to con-
tinue after Mr. Asquith rests on his
laurels, his successor will require a great
deal of tact and not a little personal
magnetism. The man who seems most
likely To fill the bill is the British Amer
lean Winston Churchill.
Cabinets Master Spirit.
Mr.. Churchill is even now the master
spirit i'm the Cabinet He has not failed
to carry every point upon which he has
set his heart. And he soothes. recon
Giles and satisfies everybody. Even Mr.. |
Lloyd George. who at one time showed a
disposition 10 do with the Liberals what
joseph Cham berlain tried and failed