In the Commons on Monday Mr. Birrell made his anxiously
expected statement as to the Government policy in regard to the Lords' amendments. Examining them in detail, he maintained that they altered the whole fabric of the Bill, and vitally impaired the two 'main principles of .popular control and freedom from tests. The Government had accordingly resolved to send the amendments back, not because they were all bad—some were their own, and therefore as good as gold—but because the destructive amend- ments were so numerous that to go through them all would be to impose on the House all the labours. of a Com- mittee. He still had some hopes that the Bill might 'be saved, and he indicated some Concessions which the Govern- ment were prepared' to make—e.g., the formation Of parents' committees—but reminded the House that the Government had already put upon their supporters as much pressure. as they could reasonably expect, and concluded by announcing that the Preniier would on the following day Move that the Lords' amendments should be returned en bloc: Mr. Balfour condemned the Government severely for . preventing free dis- cussion of the Lords' amendments, which he described as cautious and in accordance with the principle that parents should control the religious education of their children.
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