17 FEBRUARY 1912, Page 2

In the Lords, Lord Lansdowne, speaking on the Address, reviewed

the field of foreign policy. He postponed serious criticism of the change of capital in India and of the rearrange- ment in Bengal. It was impossible for any one to regard international politics without "very considerable uneasiness." He desired information as to Persia and particularly as to the co-operation with Russia. As for the Turco-Italian War, he deprecated premature intervention. All men wished that misunderstandings with Germany should be dispelled, and he therefore approved of the intentions of the Government in that direction. If Lord Haldane's visit to Berlin did any good no political party would be more pleased than the Opposition. For the rest, Lord Lansdowne ridiculed the Government pro- gramme of legislation. Lord Crewe, who replied, spoke enthusiastically of the wisdom and intrepidity of the King and Queen in visiting India. Ho fully agreed with Lord Lansdowne as to the danger of premature intervention in the Turco-Italian War. The Government had no thought of interfering inopportunely. He deprecated a gloomy view of Persian affairs. In China the policy of the Government was one of absolute non-intervention. As for Germany, good had already come of Lord Haldane's visit, and be thought more good would come later.