Letter from [WSC] to Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith criticising Smith's suggestion that the House of Commons should be empowered to ignore the opinion of the House of Lords on a bill but that the Lords should be able to suspend the Royal Assent until after a general election has returned a House of Commons not unfavourable to the measure. Typescript copy.

Part of a Cabinet memorandum by WSC on the courses open to the Government for the passing of the Budget and for reform of the House of Lords Notes, arguing that the issue of reform of the House of Lords is more important than the Budget. Draft partly in WSC's hand. The first paragraph of this document is at CHAR 2/42/26. Folio 34 forms paragraphs 5 to 8 of the published version.

Memorandum from WSC (Board of Trade) to the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith, later Lord Oxford and Asquith] on the unnecessary difference between the Government and its supporters over whether the passing of the Budget or the ending of the House of Lords' veto should be tackled first. Draft in WSC's hand.

Notes, in the form of questions by WSC and answers by ? on the possibility of holding a referendum on the House of Lords' veto.

Notes on a speech in the House of Commons asserting that the Government should, if necessary, compromise over the details of the Budget but should put forward a radical policy on the House of Lords.

Answer by Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith to WSC's criticisms of Smith's suggestions for the reform of the relations between the House of Commons and the House of Lords [see CHAR 2/42/20-24 and CHAR 2/42/50-51]. Annotated typescript.

Notes [by Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith] on reform of the relations between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Extracts from various speeches made by WSC in 1909 and 1910 on the intention of the Liberals to end the veto of the House of Lords if returned at the general election. Annotated typescript.

Letter from Sir Arthur Thring (Office of the Parliamentary Counsel) to WSC concerning the differences between the "Polls on one day" provision brought in by the Liberal government in 1895 and the [Parliamentary] bill introduced in the current parliamentary session. Signed manuscript.

Letter from Sir Arthur Thring (Office of the Parliamentary Counsel) to WSC concerning two alternative amendments to the [Parliamentary Bill] [see CHAR 12/2/32] which would prevent safeguards being removed without the consent of the House of Lords. Signed manuscript.

Suggested amendments [to the Parliamentary Bill]. Typescript. Covering letter at CHAR 12/2/31.

Copy of a letter from [WSC] ([Home Office]) to James Seddon [President of the Shop Assistants' Union] assuring him that the Shops Bill has not been abandoned, but postponed due to the "extraordinary political crisis" [constitutional deadlock between the Liberal Government and the House of Lords]. Unsigned typescript.

Letter from WSC (House of Commons) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the announcement of the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith] regarding the Government's intentions on the reform of the relations between the two Houses of Parliament and the [1909] Budget; and [John] Redmond's "menacing" speech on the position of the Irish [National] Party.

Letter from WSC (House of Commons) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the speeches of [George] Barnes, F E Smith [later Lord Birkenhead], [William] O'Brien, [William] Moore, WSC and Walter Ling on proposals for Parliamentary reform.

Resolutions passed by Conservative constituency associations calling on as many ministers as possible to attend the annual conference of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, and urging the Government to introduce legislation to reform trade unions and the House of Lords. Sent with CHAR 2/147/174.

Circular letter from Edward Campbell, secretary of the Second Chamber Reform Committee, enclosing and commenting on CHAR 2/150/2.

Reprint from "The Nineteenth Century and After": "The Parliament Act and Second Chamber Reform" by F G Stone. Sent with CHAR 2/150/1.

Letter from ? J H (41 Cadogan Square, [London] enclosing and commenting on a pamphlet of 1719 on the independence of the House of Lords [see CHAR 2/51//82]. Annotated with WSC's instruction to "write a vy civil reply & post by hand.".

"The constitution explain'd, in relation to the independency of the House of Lords. With reasons for strengthning that branch of the legislature most liable to abuse. And an answer to all the objections made to the now-reviv'd Peerage Bill." Sent with CHAR 2/51/81. [2,5-71,[1]p].

Letter from WSC to Baron de Forest wishing him luck in his electoral contest in West Ham [London] and explaining the value of the National Insurance Bill. Pledges that the Government will not give up its struggle with the House of Lords now that it has reached "the last round." Typescript copy annotated and signed by Edward Marsh.

Notes by WSC of a conversation in which support was expressed for the Government's introduction into Parliament of [Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman's resolutions on the limitation of the House of Lords' veto].

Letter from James Caird (Dundee, [Angus, Scotland]) to WSC approving the scheme for Free Trade instruction classes and examinations to be undertaken by Eliot Crawshay Williams. Encloses a report from Dr Robert Caird on the Glasgow Unionist Free Trade Club [not present], which shows that Free Trade does not always mean Liberalism, even in Scotland. Expresses interest in the idea of local parliaments under the general control of the Imperial Parliament.