On this we may remark that not only would it
be absolutely -impossible for the King, no matter what his private opinions, to grant such a request, but also that no body of responsible Ministers could, in view of the very uncertain voice of the nation at the General Election, hold such a pistol to his Majesty's head. In the first place, the notion of doing so assumes that the Cabinet is unanimous in believing that the abolition of the veto is the proper way of reforming the Constitution. It leaves out of sight entirely what is pretty well known to be the fact,—that a very considerable number of members of the Cabinet, possibly a majority, are believers in a Second Chamber, though no doubt a very different type of Second Chamber from that which now exists, and could not therefore consent to the policy of abolishing the veto in a short, sharp Bill." It may be relied upon that those of the Cabinet who want reform of the House of Lords will not yield to pressure, but will insist on a proper scheme of reform being introduced. But this necessarily means time for consideration. Before the question of dealing with the Crown on the " shirt-sleeves " method can arise there must come a crisis in the Cabinet.
