The Evening Standard

CRISIS IN ENGLAND
Insult to Asquith Has Made the Liberals More Determined

London, July 25.—Yesterday's scene in the House of Commons, when the opposition denied a hearing to Premier Asquith who sought to move consideration of the Lords' amendments to the veto bill, resulting in the arbitrary suspension of the sitting by Speaker Lowther, has really aroused public interest in the constitutional crisis, regarding which the people generally had before refused to take more than passing interest. The Downing Street home of the cabinet and the vicinity of the houses of Parliament today attracted many curious ones who, on occasions of special political activity, are anxious to see the participants in the strife. At the political clubs and elsewhere a variety of opinions as to the outcome were expressed.

The Liberals believe that the treatment which Mr. Asquith was subjected to will tend to stiffen the backs of the ministers, if that is necessary, and make them insist on the prompt passage of the veto bill, failing in which the required number of peers to ensure the enactment of the legislation will be created.

While the Unionists generally excuse the conduct of the insurgents on the ground that the situation was one of great gravity, they secretly deplore the incident as likely to hurt them with the country, as heretofore they have been held up to public view as the party of order and decency.

It probably will be some few days before either side takes any forward steps. The king, who has taken the keenest interest in the crisis, has again postponed his visit to Goodwood and it is extremely probable that the pleasure excursion will be abandoned although it is still hoped that his majesty will be able to keep his engagement for the Cowes regatta on Saturday.

The cabinet members were busy today. Chancellor David Lloyd George, John Burns, president of the local government board, and Home Secretary Churchill were early callers on Premier Asquith and there were frequent conferences, the most important of which were at the foreign offices, in which the premier and Sir Edward Grey, the foreign secretary, and Lloyd George participated. The Master of Elibank, the chief government whip, also was called in, doubtless to give the ministers an idea of the views of the rank and file of the party with which naturally he keeps in touch.

The Unionist leaders are awaiting the result of Lord Lansdowne's list of peers. He has addressed a circular inquiring whether they are prepared to support him in his advocacy of a peaceful solution of the difficulty through the acceptance of the government's bill.

No date has been set for the resumption of the peers' conference, which was adjourned from July 21. It was said at the residence of A. J. Balfour, the opposition leader in the lower house, that it was unlikely that a statement of any kind would be issued here today. As the city meeting and luncheon arranged by the City Carlton club, in honor of Mr. Balfour, has been abandoned, no light is likely to be thrown on the situation from that quarter.

Today the two wings of the Unionist party, for the cleavage is now undisguised, are actively canvassing the peers for votes when the veto bill returns to the upper house. Lord Lansdowne has promises from more than 150 to support his policy of allowing the bill to pass, while upwards of 100 are claimed by the section of the party which is fighting for no surrender.

It is thought the larger number of peers will not pledge themselves either way, but will find it convenient to be absent when the bill is presented.

One thing is certain, the government will not send the bill back to the House of Lords until positive of its passage, either by the present membership or with the help of new creations.

Mr. Balfour and Lord Lansdowne had a long conference at the former's residence this afternoon regarding the assurances that they, as leaders of the Unionist party, could give Mr. Asquith that the peers' amendments would not be insisted on. King George today sent for Viscount St. Aldwyn, an influential moderate Unionist who has the confidence of both parties to a large measure. The audience was brief but it is expected that the viscount hereafter will take a prominent part in the negotiations between the leaders of the two parties.