ROYAL POSITION EXPLAINED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1201, 9 August 1911, Page 5

ROYAL POSITION EXPLAINED.

if?. ASQUSTH REVEALS CABINET SECRETS. AT HIS MAJESTY'S WISH.

By TekEraDb—Press Association-Oopyricht (Eec. August 8, 11.45 p.m.) London, August S. The debate on Mr. Balfour's censure motion took place in the Houso of Commons last night, and was listened to by a crowded House. ~, Mr. Bnlfour, before moving the motion, asked the Premier to give the date on which tho pledge of the King to create Peers if required had been given. Mr. Asquith replied that Ministers had tendered advico to this effect when the Lords introduced their amendments, but previous confidential communications had passed, about which he might speak later. MR. BALFOUR'S SPEECH. Mr. Balfour, who was greeted with prolonged cheers on rising, then moved— That tho action of tho Government in obtaining a pledge/ for the creation of Peers is a gross violation of Constitutional liberty, precluding the people "from pronouncing on tho question of Home Eule for Ireland. He declared that in advising the Crown, the Government had not acted in obedience to a great overwhelming pressure of public opinion, but to further a Parliamentary arrangement with tho sections supporting them. In order to prevent the people from pronouncing on Homo Rule, tho Government had dragged the King into a position in which his prerogative was so misused as to arouse the indignation of nearly half tho people of the United Kingdom. That was a cruel position for the advisers of tho King to place his Majesty in. Tho King was the fountain of honour, but the Government had determined that the stream from tho fountain should be poisoned and corrupted. A Sordid Drama. Hβ did not question that the Government, by searching the by-ways, would havo no difficulty in finding gentlemen willing to accept , the new honours upon the terms they imposed, but these gentlemen would bo but "supers" in a sordid drama, in which tho Ministers would be tho chief actors. It would ho contrary to the whole spirit of constitutional Government to erect an executive authority which should manipulate either Chamber. Mr. Balfour then instanced the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa, and asserted that in. no case would tho Executive in the -Lower Mouse bo permitted to flood tho Second Chamber.

"Modify or reform the Lords if you like , ," declared tho Opposition Leader, "but don't pack it with hired voters until it becomes the supple instrument of the Executive's will." An Abuse of Power. Although all Opposition members did not agree as to tho immediate steps necessary, all wero determined to resist' tho Government to tho uttermost. Mr. Asquith for eight months had kept secret what had passed between himself aiid the King. All that timo lie had been masquerading as a Constitutional Minister, although he had used tho Royal prerogative as no Minister had ever dared, or even tho King in the old Jays of tho prerogative had dared to use it. When this was realised, tho wise and sober opinion of tho country would say that the Constitution, mutilated and shattered as. it had been, could not be left in the ruined form in which Mr. Asquith left it.