The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28
Sensational Denouncement of Pre-.
mier's Brother-in-Law Evidence
of His Rising Power.

declaring that II was q matter OF
common knowledge that Gen. Sir
Charles Monro, who succeeded Sir Ian
Hamilton in command at the Darda-
nelles, had reported in favor Of with
drawing the allied forces from the
peninsula Lord Ribblesdale's criti-
cism was Of a very moderate character.
and II he spoke with feeling Of tho
mistakes made in the course of the
Galipoli campaign 1t must be re-
membered that his only remaining
son and heir was killed in the trenches
there, his eldest o having given his
life for his country in one Of England's
little wars" In Somaliland eleven
years ago. Prematurely aged, broken
in health. confronted with the extinc-
ton of the family honors at his
death and the passage Of his ancestral
home and estates to comparative
strangers. his denunciation as a trail
tor 10y Lord Derby seems, In view OF
the great weight which the Earl's
words carry Just at present. to have
been in every way regrettable. un-
called for and eve cruel.
With regard to Lord st. Davids. he
~ deserves. II not consideration, at
least some forbearance. For already
overwhelmed with grief over the re-
cent n tragically sudden death Of
his wife, he has within the last three
months had his eldest son killed at the
front In France. and consequently
might receive indulgence for giving
voice in the House Of Lords to some
Of the stories which have been cur
rent. both in London and in Paris,
with regard to the alleged easygolng
methods at British headquarters in
France and az to the equally alleged
incapacity Of some of the members Of
Sir John French's huge stan.
Both the speech Of Lord Ribbles-
dale and that of Lord st. Davids were
delivered in the House OF Lords,
where, owing to the absence Of he
cloture which prevails in the Conn
mons. and TO that of any presiding
officer clothed with such arbitrary
powers as the speaker Of the lower
chamber. the peers are free to- speak
as they list and without restriction.
Indeed. what with the censorship OF
the press and the readiness of the
civi, and military authorities to lock
| up on charges of attractions OF the
defence act any one guilty u cX-
pressing disapproval of the Admins
tratlon OF of the conduct of the naval
and military operations. the much
decried House of Lords Is to-day. as
in ancient times, prior to the exist
ence OF the Commons. the only place
in the United Kingdom where complete
freedom OF speech and liberty OF
criticism prevail. >
This freedom Lord Derby seeks To
curtail and even abolish. He insisted
in his Stock Exchange speech on Tues
day last that the authority OF the
censor should be extended to the
House of Lords and that n curb
should he put on the speeches deliv-
cred there, and that any peer who said
there anything that could possibly be
construed as Of use To the enemy
should receive the same punishment
as a man who risked his life in get
ting information for the enemy, that
Is TO say. as "a y or a traitor.
Naturally there is not the slightest
prospect of the House of Lords sur
rendering its liberty of speech, which
il has enjoyed since the reign %
King John and the signature o
M.sna Char,a az Runnymeje 'no years
aSo. All that the Government car
, do In the matter IL 10 punish ms
. necessary suppress tho newspaper