The sun., 1919-10-25
BRITISH CABINET
TO KEEP OFFICE
DESPITE DEFEAT
Adverse Vote in Commons
Interpreted as Warning
to Ministry.
MAY BE RECONSTRUCTED
Lord Miner Opposed to Any
Change in Nations Fiscal
Policies.
NAY BE RECONSTRUCTED

LoNpoN, Oct. 24-Political experts
and the editorial utterances in the pa
pers this morning generally express
the view that no one expects the Gov
ernment to resign as result of the
adverse vote in the House of Com
mons yesterday, and that the circum-
stances of the defeat of the pilots
amendment in nowise need entail such
q step. The Incident, however. is re-
garded on all sides as one which has
given the administration a severe
shock. a repetition Of which II could
hardly survive.
The vote is generally described as an
assertion of the independence Of the
House Of Commons and a revolt
against the alleged dictation OF Minis
ters, a determination to reassert the
supremacy which the Commons sur
rendered TO the Cabinet during the
war.
More than one hundred supporters of
the Coalition, among whom Sir Edward
Carson was conspicuous voted against
the government These represented the
Intense anu-alien feeling prevailing
among the conservative Coalitionists
and the fear that the government Is try
ing In the present stage Of the bill to
annul amendments which those hostile
to aliens secured in the committee
stage. Some surprise is expressed that
tha loh
FREQ Liberals Joined In the vote against
the government on this Issue, thereby
Identifying themselves with the anti
alien faction. contrary to the avowed
principles Of their leaders.
May Ask Reconsideration.
1t is believed in some quarters that
/ the government on Monday will ask the
House to reconsider the vote and In
view of certain circumstances II liz re-
garded as possible that the House may
comply. These circumstances concern
the convention entered into between
Great Britain and France in 1919, in
| which 1t was agreed that French pilots
| might bring French ships into certain
English ports and that English pilots
| should be granted a reciprocal privilege
| In French ports. II is contended that
unless the House Of Commons revises
yesterdays vote the government will
F; be compelled to denounce the conven-
/ ton and Incur the reproach of treating
the compact as "a scrap of paper
| To this the anti-alien reply Is that the
/ convention was concluded secretly and
that Information about II was only
dragged from a reluctant government
| during yesterdays debate.
Dissatisfaction Is also expressed al
| - l1t eA
Secretary. handled the bill In Commons
strengthening the belief that he will
probably resign.
The Ministerial Council. under the
prEidency of Premier Lloyd George
discusSd the political situation this
morning and later the entire Cabinet
assembled.
MiIner Opposes Change.
Opposition to any change In fiscal poll
cies OF Great Britain and a plea fol
careful consideration Of the situation
before the country were expressed ir
the House Of Lords to-day by Viscoun
M'lncr, Secretary OF State for Colonies
who replied to criticisms OF the Gov
ernment by Lord Buckmaster, who In
to the gravity OF the financial position
and suggesting the necessity for the I'm
position of additional taxes.
81 deprecate panicky views which ar,
prevalent regarding the oountry's imam
cial position" said yiscount Miner
whose statements were considered as tn,
Government view OF the situation. ''Th,
position, though grave, is far less seriou
than that in any other great country
with the possible exception of the Unitet
States and Japan. II certainly does no
Justify any rash changes In the fisca
system and no proof has been givei
that additional taxation Is necessary
Nothing should be done until after de
liberate and careful study. Irreparabl
mischief might be done to the recovery o
trade and industry by recourse to sucl
an expedient as a general capital levy
which has been proposed by Lord Buck
master.
viscount Milner warmly defends tn
Government against charges Of neglec
to care for the financial status of tn
country.
There have been a number of advers
circumstances. such as the delay In ar
ranging the terms Of peace. troubles 4
Afghanistan. and Egypt and unsettle
conditions In the Near East, which hav
prevented the curtailing of expendi
tures." he said.
"Our position is regrettable. but II 1
not catastrophe. and the proper way
TO regard this years deficit as part O
the war burden. 1t Is quite certain W
shall receive several hundred million
J next year from the liquidation of wa
assets, and the debts OF our dominion
may be regarded as good debts. Tn
amounts recoverable from foreign coun
tries and Germany are certainly specula
tive, but II would be prsposterous to SUP
pose that foreign countries are going I
default in their obligations Such an Al
! sumption would be an Insult 10 eu
great Allies"