PROGRESS OF THE WORLD. 



449 



with Germain-, which must ere long 

 mean reduction in naval expenditure, 

 a consummation devoutly to be ho] 

 for. 



The Marconi Transactions. 



Mr. Balfour has again demonstrated 

 that he is the only possible leader of 

 the Unionist Party. Speaking in the 

 House on the debate raised upon the 

 conduct of Ministers with regard to 

 Marconi shares, he put the case with 

 a dignity and breadth of understand- 

 ing, combined with a jealous care for 

 the traditions of Parliament, which no 

 one else now in the House can com- 

 mand. Nothing could have been in 

 more marked contrast to the snarly 

 and even vindictive speech of Mr. 

 Bonar Law, who officially leads the 

 Opposition. Mr. Asquith, in his usual 

 lucid manner, reviewed the facts. He 

 did not think that he or anyone else 

 had ever heard franker and manlier 

 utterances than those of Sir Rufus 

 Isaacs and Mr. Lloyd George in ex- 

 plaining their action. They had made 

 a i error in judgment, and paid heavily 

 for it, but their honour, both private 

 and public, remained absolutely un- 

 stained. Sir Edward Grey pointed out 

 that if the House agreed to Mr. Bonar 

 Law's amendment, regretting the 

 "want of frankness" of the Ministers, 

 it would entail their resignation, and 

 the closing of their political careers. 

 The House voting on purely party lines 

 adopted the following resolution :- 

 "That this House accepts the expres- 

 -: .ns of regret by the Ministers at their 

 purchases of American Marconi shares, 

 and that the fact was nol mentioned 

 during the October debate; a< quits 

 them of having acted otherwise than in 

 good faith, and reprobates the wholly 

 false charges of corruption brought 

 against the Ministers." Tins closes a 

 most unfortunate incident. No one for a 

 moment thinks that the two Ministers 



and Lord Murray of Elibank were 

 guilt}- of anything but an unfortunate 

 error of judgment; still this sort of 

 thing leaves a nasty taste behind it, 

 and mi}- yet damage the careers of the 

 i ; tors. Because of the enquiry 

 valuable time has been lost in complet- 

 ing a British chain of wireless stations 

 r tund the Empire. Experiments in Aus- 

 tralia seems to prove that the Tele- 

 funken system gives much the best re- 

 sults. The Marconi Company holds all 

 the master patents, however, and is 

 bound to be interested in whatever sys- 

 tem is adopted. 



The Murder of Shevket Pasha. 



General Mahmond Shevket Pasha, 

 Grand Vizier and leader of the Consti- 

 tutional Revolution of 1909, was 

 assassinated in Constantinople on June 

 nth. For political reasons the anti- 

 Young Turk Part}- had decided to get 

 rid of the Vizier. He knew that his 

 life was in danger, but took no precau- 

 tions, and was shot in his motor-car, 

 together with his-aide-de-camp. Many 

 arrests were made, and twelve of the 



inspirators were condemned to de 

 and executed. Many others, including 

 Prince Sabaheddin, a relative of the 

 Sultan, were also sentenced, but left 

 the country before the trial com- 

 menced. Said Pasha has been ap- 

 pointed Vizier, filling the office for the 

 eighth time. He served in this capa- 

 city for many years under Abdul 

 llaniid. A strong man, but well ad- 

 vanced in years. The Young Turks 

 still seem to be in control of affairs, 

 but thus far have nol shown any 

 ia ty of risin ; I 1 the difficult situa- 

 tion which confronts them. 



Trouble in the Balkans. 



If left to themselves, there is every 



►ability that the Balkan Allies 

 would be fighting over the spoils, but 



great Pi >wers < anm il affi >rd t» • have 



