THE BRITISH CRISIS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 133, 28 July 1911, Page 5

THE BRITISH CRISIS.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. United Press Association. London, July 27. Those present at Lord Halsbury’s banquet included Earl Roberts, the Duke of Northumberland, the Earl of Plymouth, Mr W. H. Smith, the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Hugh Cecil, and the Duke of Westminster. Tin full list, has not been published. Mr Joseph Chamberlain sent a letter expressing the wish that he could have been present, and adding that lie heartily supported the object. The letter concluded: “The country owes a great debt to Lord Halsbury, since in this crisis of her fate ho refused to sacrifice his principles.” Lord Selbornc, who presided, said the divsion of opinion in the Party was confined to a single issue, namely, the creation of peers. It was the duty of Unionists to stand firm until they were outvoted in the lobbies. Lord Halsbury, who received an ovation, made a vehement appeal to resist the Veto Bill, which, he declared, was tho most unconstitutional measure ever proposed. The last time peers were created for tho purpose of carrying a great measure three of he authors were impeached, two tied the country, and another was confined to the Tower for two years.

Lord Milner declared: “We will give up .our privileges, but not our trusteeship.”

All tho speakers paid a high tribute to Mr Balfour and Lord Lansdownc. Mr Austen Chamberlain met ’dtb a groat reception, being greeted with cheers and exclamations of “Our Future Prime Minister.” Mr Balfour’s letter to Lord Newton has brought the Unionist papers into line. The only remaining dissentients are the Daily Express, Pall Mall Gazette, the Globe, and the Sheffield Tele-

graph. Two hundred and thirty peers have signified their intention of supporting Lord Lansdownc. Many intimated that they will vote for the Government if required.