LETTER FROM MR BALFOUR.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13169, 27 July 1911, Page 2

LETTER FROM MR BALFOUR.

AT ONE WITH LORD LANSDOWNE

(Received July 26,10.10 p.m.) London, July 26

The King has cancelled his Goodwood visit entirely. His Majesty received Lord St Aldwyn. in audience.

Mr'Balfour, writing to Lord Newton, said: "I do not desire to intervene in the affairs of the Upper House, but I think a majority of the Lords should support Lord Lansdowne. I agree with the advice Lor« Lansdowno lias given his friends With Lord Lansdowno I stand, and with Lord Lansdowne I am ready if need be to fall. The present situation is grave and even alarming, not only because we are in the power of an unscrupulous and revolutionary Government, but because the real character of the peril is obscured by controversy concerning tactics. The crime of the Government is that by 1i gross misuse of the prerogative it has made tho second chamber powerless. It lias imitated Cromwell without his excuse of genius. Fighting in any effective sense is impossible. The action of those refusing to follow Lord Lansdowne does not resemble any serious military operation, and does not requiro the exercise of any military virtue. It will be a misfortune if the present crisis -leaves the House of Lords weaker. than the Parliament Bill makes it; and it would bo an irreparable tragedy if it left tho Unionists a divided party,1'