IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12169, 10 June 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

A ROUND-TABLE CONFERENCE.

PRESS OPINIONS

(Press Assn. — By Telegrapu — Copyright.) LONDON, June 9. Chiefly owing to the large collections of income tax arrears, the Treasury balance is twenty millions sterling, compared M'ith seven millions last year. In the House of Lords, Earl Beauchahip read King George's message acknowledging the address of condolence on the death of the late King. The Earl of Crewe said he understood that Lord Rosebery did not propose, to proceed M'ith the resolutions.-

Lord Rosebery thereupon intimated that he did not wish to do anything to prevent a spirit of pacification. He had learned m influential quarters that an opportunity might be. taken, on account of the national bereavement, to find some form of conciliation. ?Lord Rosebery added that hiß resolutions stood on their own foundations, and had no relation to the Government's Veto resolutions.

In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith announced that the Unemployment Assurance Bill was completed, ' but that, under the circumstances, he feared it would not be introduced.

Mr Widter Long's statement that if any effort at a peaceful settlement emanated from the Government, they would meet a ready, willing and patriotic response, from the Opposition, was made with the full concurrence of Mr Balfour and his colleagues. . • The Daily Chronicle says that a roundtable conference is. highly probable. The Government will shortly be initiating negotiations. There is reason to believe that King George's earnest desire is that a resolute effort to find a peaceful solution shall be 'made- by the ?sta:t'eshieii ' of both -parties before the combat is resumed. The Chronicle adds : "Wo are not sanguine as to the results of the conference., Tlie Government cannot recede from its position. The zone of concession on the Liberal side is strictly limited. Mr Long's conciliatory spirit is very welcome, and if peace with honor is achievable by negotiations, so much the better. Nevertheless, the crisis provoked by the aggressive acts of the Lords is a matter of life and death. to Liberalism. Tliere is not much room for compromise where ,so much is at stake." The Daily News says that whatever steps the Governnient may be tempted to take must be governed by consideration. 'The conference must not be a cover for a party manoeuvre, and must not be* allowed to degenerate into an obstacle to a speedy settlement as to essentials. The mandate of the country is clear and compelling. According to the Press Association lobby opinion considers that a conference is assured. The membership will consist of Cabinet Ministers on one side and Unionist ex-?Ministera oh the Other. The 'Times and the Daily Chronicle declare that the Laborites are ' strongly opposed to a conference. The Times adds that the Nationalists are willing to await the issue of the conference, and the Unionists consider that m the event of a conference the Government should produce ' their scheme for the reform of the House of Lords.

[The term "Round-table Conference" dates from a sories of meetings held m 1887 between. Sir George Trevelyan, Mr Chamberlain, Mr John Morloy, and Sir William Harcourt, with the object, if possible, of finding a basis for the reunion of tho Liberal LTnionists and the Gladstoniuns, who had been split over the Homo Rule Bill. No result was arrived at.] ' l ' (Received June 10, 8.46 a.m.)'" LONDON, June 9. 'Hie Times says that the Government's attitude is frank and straightforward. They . are not going to take any action .which might oe construed as provocative. - ■ ' Tlie Telegraph rejoices that there is a fairer chance that counsels of reason will prevail. ' , ''■'•:■■■ The Morning Post insists that an Essential preliminary is that the Premier must be' prepared to make substantial concessions. The contends that compro-mise-as- impossible, and professes' to believe that the Government is merely aiming at delay, and does not dare toV:oi» •suit the people. . y Tlie Freeman's Journal says that ortce the bypaths of conference and negotiation are entered on the passage to sur? render will be fatally easy. No ?Liberal loader possesses the adroitness and subtlety of Mf Balfour m treading such a quagmire. The Irish Independents arc suspicious of a compromise, as implying the sacrifice of Home Rule. '■