Imperial Bias

After the recent "freak" Canadian parliamentary election at which 116 Conservatives, 101 Liberals and 25 Progressives (TIME, Jan. 18) were returned, the Canadian House of Commons became little more than a cockpit in which Liberals and Conservatives heckled each other interminably and fought to gain the support of as many Progressives as possible.

Liberal Premier King kept his Cabinet going on the slenderest of majorities until his defeat by one ballot and resignation a fortnight ago. (TIME, July 5.) Last week Conservative leader Arthur Meighen stepped confidently into the Premiership. Within 72 hours he, too, suffered defeat. Lest this teetering and tottering continue indefinitely, Governor General Baron Byng of Vimy promptly dissolved the Canadian House of Commons.

But Premier Meighen did not resign, declared his intention of continuing to head the Government ad interim until next September, when a general election will be held.

Byng. Unfortunately the dissolution of last week was accomplished under circumstances reflecting upon the impartiality of His Britannic Majesty, as represented by Baron Byng.

Before bluff, hearty Countryman King resigned as Premier, he sought Lord Byng and advised the dissolution of Parliament, which would have caused the election to be held under Liberal auspices. The Governor General refused somewhat peremptorily to order dissolution and Premier King resigned forthwith. On the contrary, when suave, aristocratic, moneyed Premier Meighen approached Baron Byng with a request for dissolution last week it was granted instanter --thereby putting the electoral machinery in the hands of Conservatives. Though Lord Byng acted within his legal rights, custom virtually obligated him to follow the original "advice" of Premier King. Unquestionably the efforts of Mr. King during the past five years to free Canada from every vestige of dependence upon Britain have been remarked with disfavor in Downing Street, and at Buckingham Palace. Per contra, Premier Meighen is a staunch Imperialist. Lord Byng, it is apparent, cut Canada's Gordian Knot on a distinctly Imperial bias.