The Liberals will not finally decide upon their course with
reference to the Resolutions until after the party meeting next week. It appears to be understood, however, among the leaders, that they will work the Resolutions on one condition—that Mr. Disraeli will define how far he means his franchise to go, and will state what form of plurality he will accept. Mr. Bernal Osborne tried hard on Thursday night to induce the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state his franchise, but Mr. Disraeli refused, ostensibly because the limit was a matter of detail, really because his Cabinet cannot agree what the franchise shall be. He told Lord Robert Montagu, however, in reply to a somewhat searching question, that he did not intend to accept all amendments the Opposition might offer, and did intend, if his resolutions were accepted, to bring in a Bill at once. It seems clearly impossible to separate the question of qualification from that of voting by pluralities.
