THE BEST TACTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14525, 12 November 1910, Page 7

THE BEST TACTICS.

AN IMMEDIATE ELECTION (Received November 11, 11-50 p.m.) London, November 11. The Times laments that the Conference has not vindicated Britain's boasted talent for political .compromise and cautious, development of her institutions, thus a grave constitutional issue : must apparently be decided as 'a mere incident in party warfare at the elections which will be determined by ( a dozen other issues.

The Times adds that the reticence regarding the prolonged negotiations is absurd and practically futile.

The Daily Chronicle's leader is headed "Open war.". It remarks that as the Tory leaders have rejected the settlement possible at the Conference, it is obvious that they will not advise the House of Lords to accept the Government's original policy. The King is not likely to consent to the extreme measures necessary to overcome the Lords, but is much more likely . to require, in so great a crisis :at the outset of. his reign, the guidance and support of a direct appeal to his people, hence an immediate election is the Government's duty, besides being the best tactics. The Chronicle, however, while it regards an election in December as possible, says that for various reasons it is improbable.

SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE. The conference" which has been sitting on and off since last June was originally summoned to dfecuss the limitations, of the. veto of the House of Lords, but its scope was afterwards extended, an. effort being made to arrive at a compromise on other big questions in the hope that a coalition of the two great ■ parties might be found to be practicable. Writing on the prospects of the conference, at the time it was first called together, the Times said :—"The nation, we are convinced, has received with deep and sincere satisfaction the determination of the leaders of the two great parties to attempt the solution of the great constitutional issues which have been raised by an agreement they can conscientiously recommend to their followers ■. on either side. It is a boast that British parties have always known how and when to compromise. 'No quarter' is not a battle cry in British politics, as any party which endeavoured to raise it would very eoon find out. There are ' special circumstances at the present time which would make a struggle fought out with it more than commonly repugnant to the general ' feeling. The nation has suffered a great sorrow, and is anxious that the new King should begin his reign under favourable auspices. ,No eentimeht of this kind can indeed change the problems before us, but it certainly has affected, and does affect, the spirit in which the vast majority of our countrymen would wish to have them approached. There are, of course, extreme men upon both sides who protest against compromise or any efforts after a compromise, and who cry out for.' a fight to a finish.' Radicals of this typo are angry with the Prime Minister and his colleagues for inviting the leaders of the Opposition to a conference. The Conservatives of the same stern and unyielding character are not less indignant with Mr. Balfour and his friends for entertaining such a proposal. Moderate men of both parties—and by far the greater part of the electors are essentially moderate menwill not only think that" the statesmen are doing what is right and eensible by coming together to talk matters over, but they will very earnestly hope that the conversations between the leaders may result in a, substantial measure of agreement."