24 FEBRUARY 1912, Page 3

The debate was continued on Thursday, Lord Minto joining in

the complaint as to the manner in which the changes had been made. Lord Morley strongly condemned Lord Curzon's manner of dealing with the question, and "an animated conversation" ensued in regard to an anecdote related by Lord Curzon, which Lord Morley stated bad no foundation. Lord Lansdowne wound up the debate. The Government, he held, ought not to claim a unanimity of favourable opinion for their policy, since a great deal of criticism was withheld solely out of a desire not to injure the good results achieved by the King's visit. But though there was room for criticism the present policy bad been decided on, and they ought to do nothing to interfere with its success. We are very strongly of Lord Lansdowne's opinion. We would, however, go further than he did. In all the circum- stances we think it would have been better if Lord Curzon had refrained from raising the matter. It was just one of the occasions when, in spite of provocation and in spite of an abstract right to a protest, complete silence would have been the best policy to pursue. It is no use to protest when it has become physically impossible for the protest to be acted on.