Writing under the heading "The Reform of the House of
Lords," Lord Brassey summarises in Tuesday's Times an eirenicon which he has addressed to the Liberals of the Rye Division of Sussex. The gist of the letter is that objections can be removed by compromise. Lord Brassey does not anticipate that there will be serious resistance on the point of the Money Bills, but suggests that opposition to the restriction of the -veto on general legislation may be over- come by adding to the present proposals a proviso that no measures refused by the Lords shall become law until a Referendum or General Election has been held. With regard to changes in the constitution of the Upper House Lord Brassey advises caution, and deprecates the wholesale adoption of the elective principle. Lord Brassey, who scouts the Socialist scare as ill-founded, ends by suggesting that, as the country demands a truce between parties, the Ministry should devote the Recess to holding conferences with a view to arriving at a settlement acceptable to both parties. We welcome the conciliatory tone of Lord Brassey's letter, and should be glad to think that it reflects the opinion of Liberals outside the House of Lords.
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