LONDON GOSSIP.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 64, 13 September 1900, Page 7

LONDON GOSSIP.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 28th July. BRITISH POLITICS. In connection with the political situation, an awkward split has occurred in the Opposition Party in the House of Commons.' Sir Wilfred Lawson, the irresponsible and irrepressible teetotaller, .wanted to bring on a discussion on the war, and sought to do this 'by a motion tv reduce Mr. Chamberlain's salary. This was repudiated by Sir Henry CampbellBannerman and the official Liberal Party, who agreed to walk out of the House without voting. But Sir Robert Reid, Mr. John Morley, and several other exmembers of the former Liberal Government, chose to act "on their own,' and to support Sir Wilfrid Lawson in his attack on the war and the Government. On the other hand, Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Asquith, and others, resenting this course, resolved to speak against the motion and support the Government. Consequently the "Great Liberal Party" was riven into three sections, one voting "Aye," one "No," and one not at all. The authority of the leader was utterly and contemptuously ignored, and Sir Henry Carnpbell-Bannerman natura'ly was highly indignant alike at the disrespect shown to himself and his leadership, and at the complete subvcrsal of Party discipline which the conduct involved. So he hastily convened a meeting of the Party, and intimated plainly that, if such behaviour were repeated ho should resign the leadership forthwith. The threat has apparently had some temporary effect, but the dissension in the Liberal ranks seems chronic and incurable. Such a state of things is not a favourable augury for ( >he general election, which is expected to take place in October next. Meanwhile Mr. Chamberlain scores once more, and so does his side. A "khaki" election and a "khaki" vote now may be regarded as almost certain.' If so, it means the continuance of the Conservatives in office and power for a period which may be seven years if they choose. Certainly the revulsion against Radicalism in Great Britain has been a most remarkable one. . TALK OP INVASION. There was a curious passage at arms in the. House of Lords last evening belween Lords Salisbury and Landsdowne on tho one hand, and Lords Wemyss, Rosebery, flind Kimberley on the. other. Lord Wemyss had tabled a series of questions implying a belief in the likelihood of a foreign invasion of England being attempted in the coming November. Lord Salisbury— one& described by Disraeli as being "a master of flouts and gibes,"— replied in a strain of almost savage ridicule, declaring that the only invasion of which he had heard as likely to occur in November' was that of the famous shooting stars, and expressing his conviction that England was adequately prepared for any other. Lord Rosebery "countered" the Premier very cleverly, remonstrating with him for his apparent ignorance or disregard of the widespread anxiety felt in this country as to its preparedness for the contingency of a foreign invasion, and asking that the expert opinion on which Lord' Salisbury relied should be given in the House. Lord Lansdowne twitted Lord Rosebery with failure to suggest any alternative to the Government policy which he censured, and Lord Kimberley retorted that to provide a policy wag not the function of the Opposition Party. Nothing came of the squabble, but, occurring as it did in the calm and somnolent House of Lords, iO may be taken as an illustration of the high state of tension into which public feeling has got just now. Certainly the complexity of the situation is enough to battle the wisest and the 'cutest. As for the "man in 'the street," he has "given it up" as an insoluble riddle, but he nevertheless shares the deep anxiety which is felt by thoughtful men of all classes as to the trend of events toward future possibilities too grave to be contemplated without uneasiness.