On Thursday, after the Government had carried by sub- stantial
majorities Motions giving precedence to the "guillotine" debate' over the discussion of Supply, and suspending the twelve o'clock rule at the evening sitting, Mr. Balfour proposed a compromise on the lines suggested by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman,—viz., that the Army Vote for pay (Vote 1) should be exempted from the " guillotine " and postponed till April 3rd, Vote 7 (for pro- visions and forage) being substituted on condition that the Auditor-General's Report should not be discussed, an oppor- tunity being afforded for such discussion later on. This compromise was accepted, and the main proposal was in the end carried by a majority of 79 (208 to 129). The ability thus proved of the Government to get their way has for the moment improved their position, but the improvement is merely in the House of Commons. In the country the pro- found discouragement of the Unionist party continues.
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