But then Mr. Morley went on to snub the Government
for not promoting a discussion on the subjects on which they are determined not to give way. He took the eccentric line of holding that the Government should authorise its delegates to argue against and condemn proposals which it regards as utterly inadmissible,—a course which would involve our country in a good deal of abstract debating-society argument for which official delegates to International Congresses are not the fittest persons, if it were a task proper to be undertaken at all. Mr. Ritchie replied to this speech of Mr. Morley's, expressing the hearty sympathy of her Majesty's Govern- ment with his general attitude,—for which Mr. Morley will hardly feel grateful,—and pointing out that the proper place in which the Government should discuss questions on which their mind is fully made up, is the British Parliament, where the Government can defend its own policy, and where there is no need for representation by delegates. It was one thing to send delegates to discuss practical matters on which legisla- tion may perhaps be desirable, and quite another to send delegates to argue against abstract propositions on which there is no more intention of taking action than on the abstract questions involved in Socialism itself. The motion for adjournment was negatived by 189 votes against 124.
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