Lord Percy (Under-Foreign Secretary), in answer to various questions, regretted that the British China Corporation had made no start in railway construction, but said that the delay was explained by them as due to the state of the money market. As to recent disturbances in Armenia, the reports received were various, but pointed to the view that they had been begun by Armenian revolutionaries. The British Government had impressed on the Porte the necessity of preventing the employment of irregular troops or Kurds if it had to suppress any outbreak; and they were endeavouring to secure joint action by the British, French and Russian Consuls to bring about a peaceful settlement. As to Macedonia, the European officers for the gendarmerie had been very well received by the Inspector-General, Hilmi Pasha, and there seemed grounds for hope of good results from that scheme. Lord Lansdowne, he explained, had not said that no progress had been made as the result of the appointment of the civil assessors. The British Government's complaint was that they had not been furnished with information enabling them to judge on that subject, and the Russian Government had expressed the hope that information might in future be supplied. Mr. Bryce derided as trumped up by the officials the stories of revolutionary movements in Armenia, but welcomed the proposed Consular co-operation.

Shortly afterwards the House adjourned for the Whitsuntide

recess.

CHAPTER IV.

Events of the Whitsuntide Recess-Report of the Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers-Parliament: Anglo-French Convention Bill; Shop Hours Bill; Penal Servitude Bill-Politics Outside Parliament: Eighty Club Dinner; Cobden Centenary-Independent Hostility to Ministers on the Valuation Bill and Licensing Bill-Committee Stage of the Licensing Bill; Rejection of the Time-limit-Irritation of the Opposition-Chinese LabourReference of Aliens Bill to Grand Committee-Demonstrations against Licensing Bill-Grievance as to "Blocking Motions"-Debate on the Congo State-Speech of Lord Rosebery at Queen's Hall-Postponement of Mr. Arnold-Forster's Statement-Bye-elections: Market Harborough and Devonport-Lords' Debate on Treatment of Natives in the South African MinesDebate in the Commons on Sir Charles Eliot's Resignation-Scene in the Commons on Chinese Labour-The Lords and Beri-beri-The Finance Bill in Committee-Irish Affairs-The Chantrey Bequest-The Government in Low Water-King Edward at Kiel-Debates in Both Houses on Army Reform in Advance of the Pending Statement; Motions by the Duke of Bedford, Lord Newton, Mr. Beckett-Licensing Bill Committee Resumed: "Closure by Compartments"-Liberal Victory in Yorkshire (Sowerby)—Aliens Bill withdrawn-Liberal Defeat at Chertsey, and Improvement in Ministerial Prospects -Debate on the Royal Declaration against Transubstantiation-Irish Land Bill-Licensing Bill got through Committee-Mr. Arnold-Forster's Army Statement-Education (Local Authority Default) Bill-The Fiscal Controversy Speech of Mr. Chamberlain at the Hotel Cecil; Meetings of the Reconstituted Liberal Unionist Association-Vote of Censure AnnouncedFinance Bill in Committee-Case of Lord Dundonald-All Night SittingLord Curzon at the Guildhall-Chinese Labour Debate on the Colonial Office Vote; Promise of Representative Institutions for the Transvaal-Debate on Ministers' Attitude to Fiscal Policy in the House of Lords-The RussoJapanese War: Seizure of British Merchant Ships by "Volunteer Fleet" Cruisers-Final Stages of the Finance Bill and Licensing Bill in the House of Commons-Liberal Victory at Oswestry-The Finance Bill and the Lords: Effect of the Delay-Vote of Censure on Ministers-"Massacre of the Innocents"-Functions of the Defence Committee-The Licensing Bill in the House of Lords-Commons and Case of Constable Anderson-Catholic University Question-Home Office Vote-Colonial Conference: Lord Rosebery and Mr. Chamberlain-Mr. Chamberlain at Welbeck-Bye-elections at Reading and N.E. Lanark-Scene on the Local Authority Default Bill-Mr. ArnoldForster on Army Reform-Licensing Bill Passes Finally-Report of Committee on Physical Deterioration-Commons' Debate on the Education Vote-Congestion of Business during the Last Week of the Session-Protests in the House of Lords-Indian Budget-King's Speech Closing the Session.

THE Whitsuntide recess was marked by little development of the political situation. It was noteworthy, however, that the Co-operative Congress, held in Whitsun week at West Ham, condemned any interference with the existing fiscal system, and that Mr. T. P. O'Connor, at the annual meeting of the United Irish League at Stratford (May 21), defended the action of the Gateshead Irishmen in refusing to vote for the Tariff Reform candidate-whose attitude towards Roman Catholic schools had commended him to the priesthood-and alleged that Mr. Chamberlain's success would mean a double injury to Ireland: dearer food and the reduction of her representation. A demonstration of 12,000 persons was held against the Licensing Bill in the Albert Hall, on May 28. Lord Peel, the chairman, denounced the Bill and advocated a time-limit of seven years at most, and

speeches were made by Mr. John Morley, the Bishop of Kensington, Mr. Arthur Chamberlain and Dr. Clifford. Messrs. Rowntree and Sherwell, well known for their joint researches into the liquor traffic, also pointed out in the Press that the Bill would prevent the State from drawing a revenue from high licences, after the manner customary in some States in the American Union. It may also be noted here that the Carmarthenshire County Council rescinded, on May 21, the resolutions refusing to take over the non-provided schools which had occasioned the adverse report of the commissioner who had held an inquiry at the end of March. The step, however, was explained, not as a decrease of hostility, but as a tactical change of front.

But perhaps the most important event of the recess was the issue of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteer Forces (May 28). It stated that both forces, through no fault of their own, were unfit to take the field; and while it recommended certain measures for the increase of their efficiency, it declared that even these would not qualify them to defeat an invading army of the modern Continental type. After rejecting the arguments for a ballot or for the adoption of the Swiss system, it recommended conscription on the Continental plan, and a period of continuous training with the Colours, not necessarily in barracks, as the only means of raising an army capable of defeating an invader. The report was signed by the Dukes of Norfolk and Richmond, Lords Derby and Grenfell, Sir Coleridge Grove, Colonels E. H. Llewellyn and (with qualifications) O'Callaghan Westropp, and Mr. Spenser Wilkinson. Separate reports were written by Sir Ralph Knox and Colonels Satterthwaite and Dalmahoy. Conscription was promptly repudiated by the War Minister in the Commons (June 2). Meanwhile, Parliament having re-assembled on May 31, the Anglo-French Convention Bill had been approved. Lord Percy, Under-Foreign Secretary, having reviewed and explained the agreement, it was criticised in some detail by Mr. GibsonBowles, Sir Charles Dilke, Mr. Robson, Mr. J. Walton and other Members, and cordially commended by Sir Edward Grey and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Mr. Balfour, in the course of his speech, congratulated the House on the removal of Morocco from the number of States-non-Christian and Oriental-whose relations with the Great Powers were the great danger to the peace of the world. The second reading was carried without a division.

The Shop Hours Bill then passed its second reading, after an amendment moved by Sir C. Dilke, condemning its failure to regulate the hours of shop assistants-who might have to work long after closing time-had been rejected by 130 to 42. The Bill proposed to empower the local authority to make rules closing shops, and restricting or regulating other retail trade, at or after 7 P.M., and also providing for a weekly half holiday; but the exercise of these powers was to be subject to an appeal to the Home Secretary, and ultimately to Parliament through

the machinery of a provisional order, and it was contended that the checks provided would render the measure ineffective. Public-houses, druggists' shops and refreshment rooms were excluded from its operation. Next day, in Committee of Supply, Mr. Long stated that a departmental committee had been appointed to deal with vagrancy; and the Thames River Steamboat Service Bill, enabling the London County Council to run steamers, though strongly opposed by some London Unionist Members, passed its third reading. This and the Shop Hours Bill eventually became law.

On the following day, June 3, an interesting discussion took place on the Penal Servitude Bill. Its object, the Home Secretary, Mr. Akers-Douglas (St. Augustine's, Kent), explained was to render it possible to sentence habitual criminals (whom it was desired to deprive of the opportunity of returning to their predatory habits) to long terms of penal servitude without subjecting them throughout to hard conditions. For part of their time they would undergo penal servitude, for the rest would be consigned to a "habitual offender division" under different and lighter restrictions. The measure was approved by the judges, and was the outcome of a departmental committee appointed by Mr. Asquith when Home Secretary in 1894. Various criticisms were passed on the Bill, Mr. H. D. Greene (Bury St. Edmunds) remarking that it to some extent interfered with the power of earning tickets of leave. It was read a second time without a division; but it was eventually withdrawn.

The Opposition, meanwhile, renewed its attacks on the Government outside the House. Thus at a complimentary dinner given to Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman by the Eighty Club on June 2, Sir Henry Fowler, after some reference to the special difficulties successfully met by their guest and the personal attacks on him, declared that the House of Commons had ceased to be a deliberative assembly, and now existed simply to register the decrees of the Government. The guest of the evening said that the Sheffield policy now possessed merely an antiquarian interest, and that the Free Trade line of battle must be formed against Protection and preferential exemptions of Colonial produce.

An opportunity for doing this was afforded by the centenary of Cobden's birth next day (June 3). A demonstration was held at his birthplace near Midhurst, at which Mr. James Bryce delivered an interesting address, laying special stress on Cobden's power of grasping facts and on his logical presentation of his views. Mr. Winston Churchill spoke at Manchester and Mr. Courtney at Edinburgh. Next day (Saturday) some seventy large demonstrations were held throughout Great Britain, and telegrams of sympathy were exchanged with various Free Trade organisations in the United States, Paris and Melbourne. At the Alexandra Palace Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman addressed an audience of several thousand persons, and was supported by

Mr. Winston Churchill, Dr. Clifford and Mr. Lloyd-George. At Birmingham Mr. John Morley spoke, and other speakers were Sir R. Giffen at Hayward's Heath, Sir R. Reid at Carlisle, and Mr. Fletcher Moulton at Derby. The Tariff Reformers also celebrated the occasion in their own way, Dr. Cunningham addressing the Compatriots' Club at Cambridge on Friday, and Mr. H. J. Mackinder and Mr. L. J. Maxse the University Tariff Reform League at Oxford, on the following day.

Apart from their ambiguous attitude on fiscal reform the Government aroused hostility by some of their measures elsewhere than among the regular Opposition. The Valuation Bill, introduced on April 26, transferred the work of valuation and assessment to the County Councils, with which the Surveyors of Taxes were to be associated, and provided that the valuations and assessments should be quinquennial instead of decennial. The transfer, however, was strongly opposed, as were other parts of the Bill, at a meeting in the City of London on June 3, and by a conference of the representatives of Boards of Guardians and Union Assessment Committees on the same day. Deputations were sent to Mr. Long, the President of the Local Government Board. He declined to yield to the wishes of the City; but the Bill never reached its second reading.

To the Licensing Bill, again, independent opposition had continued to be actively offered, and the Yorkshire Brewers' Association had even resolved, "having regard to the unfair and illogical attitude of the clergy" towards the measure, to pledge itself to assist the movement for disestablishment. Undeterred by this menace, however, several of the Leeds clergy took part in a demonstration against the Bill in that town. on June 3. The committee stage began on June 6. Several proposed instructions to the committee having been ruled out of order by the Speaker, Mr. Whittaker moved to defer consideration of the first clause. Of this clause the first section transferred to quarter sessions the power of refusing renewal of on-licences "on any ground other than the ground that the licensed premises have been ill-conducted, or are structurally deficient or unsuitable, or grounds connected with the character or fitness of the proposed holder of the licence." But the power was only to be exercised on a reference from the justices of the licensing district," and on payment of compensation in accordance with this Act." Under the second section quarter sessions were also instructed to consider, before refusing a renewal, any representations from persons interested in the licensed premises. Mr. Whittaker urged that the exercise of their power by the county authority was dependent on the scheme of compensation according to county areas; but his amendment was rejected by 227 to 116. This was followed by a serious check to the opponents of the Bill. The chief importance of the time-limit idea was in its relation to compensation. As the compensation clause could not be taken first, Mr. Ellis