LIBERALS' ADVICE TO THE KING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 5

LIBERALS' ADVICE TO THE KING.

M. ASQUITH FORESHADOWS. FAILING THE VETO BILL, A DISSOLUTION. NEW PEERS TO BE ASKED FOR.

TWO SETS OF RESOLUTIONS. • CHOSEN PEERS. By Tel«Eraph-Prcss Aajociatlon-OonyrlEht London, April 14. In the House of Lords Lord Rosobery has given notice.to move the following resolutions: — (1) That in future tho House "of Lords shall consist of Lords of Parliament; (a) chosen by the whole body of hereditary peers among themselves; (b) nominated by the Orown; (c) sitting by* virtuo of offices and qualifications; and (d) chosen from outside. (2) The term of tenure of all shall be the same, except in tho case of those sitting exofficio, who shall sit so long as they hold the office wherofor . they sit. I It is the present intention of the ' Unionists thai these resolutions shall I be submitted to a committee of the Hoiise of Lords simultaneously with the Government's veto ■ resolutions; The ' latter;will! bo introduced in th« House | of Lords before the spring recess. PROSPECT OF.THE BUDGET. THE GUILLOTINE. London, April If Under Mr. Asquith's Budget guillotino proposal the debate on'the resolutions will be concluded on April 20, the second reading will be taken on the 25tb, the committee stage will bo on tho 26th, the report will not bo dobatcd, and will be passed on the 27th. The Opposition complains that the old amendments mil bo ruled out without cognizance of the fact that many members were elected to oppose the form in which, the last Bill (now , reintroduced) was sent to the House of Lords. "The Times" says:—"lf, or when, the Lords reject the veto resolutions, and if a dissolution follows, the Government intends to take further'supply to covor tho period of the general election." MR: ASQTJITH ANTICIPATES, i (Rec. April 15, 9.50 p.m.) London, April IS. In the Houso of Commons the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, stated that a votc-on-account for six'weeks would be taken next week; The House would then adjourn on April 28-for three weeks, though possibly an informal sitting would be held : on April 29 to receive the Royal u assent to the Budget. (Cheers.) , "• ' SECOND .RESOLUTION. ■ FURTHER DEBATE IN HOUSE. London, April 14. In committee of the Housb of Commons, the debate was resumed on. the G-overnmentfs veto resolutions.

Lord Winterton (Unionist member for Horsham division of Sussex) moved an .amendment to exclude from the scope of tie second resolution Bills affecting the. duration of Parliament. / Tbo amendment was negatived by 317 to 183 votes.,, -':■ ',-V. : . Consideration "of an amendment moved by Mr. James Fitzalan Hopo (Unionist member for Central division of Sheffield) to exclude Bills affecting the prerogative, rights, and powers of the Crown, was adjourned. The rest of the sitting was devoted' to a resolution by Mt. J. W. Taylor (Labour . member for Chester-le-Street. ; Durham), in favour of restoring too trades unions the right to levy for the payment, of Labour members of the House of Commons. The debate was adjonmed after Sir William Robson, Attorney-General, had emphasised the controversial character of the subject; and suggested.that the ultimate solution was State payment of all members. ■■. '" VEFO BILL APPEARS.

HOME RULE. LESS DARING TO TRUST IRISH ' •.'■■ THANBOERS. (Rec. April 15, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 15. Mr. J. Fitzalan Hopo's deferred amendment—to exclude from the second resolution Bills affecting the preroga-. tive, rights, and powers of the Crown-7-wae negatived by 328 votes to 217. The next phase of the debate led to much excitement. ..''■. Effort to Exclude Home Rule. Mr. J. Chambers (Unionist, member for Belfast South)-, moved an " amendment to exclude from the scope of the resolution Bills creating subordinate Parliaments in tho United Kingdom. ■This was negatived by 351 votes to 245. Mr. Winston Churchill, Home Secretary, said it was lncky that Britain had been able to give a Constitution to South Africa by letters patent under the Crown.. Thus the House of Lords was unable to prevent or to mutilate a Constitution which alone had secured unity and tho prosperous continuance of South Africa within tho Empire. As compared with tho great step of granting this Constitution to South Africa—a step dependent on the Houbo of Commons alone—tho granting of a Parliament to Ireland, subject to the Imperial Parliament's supremacy, would bo less important and less grave. The Government believed that tho' granting of such a Parliament to Ireland would bo not only attended with circumstances less radical than in the case of the South African Constitution, but would enormously strengthen the unity and prosperity of the Empire. Sir Edward Carson, Unionist member for Dublin : University, argued that if the Unionist party was as corrupt as Mr. Churchill imagined, it would be able, by tho meio promise of Homo Rule to Ireland, to defeat tho Government's veto resolutions and Budget. Sir Edward Carson's argument arose from Mr. Churchill's opening remark that if the Unionists, party purposes; decided to give self-government to Ireland, tlie House of Lords would be pliable, and would not , then oppose that proposal.

After the second resolution had been earned, the third was adopted by 333 votes to 236. BUI Appoars Amid Cheers. Tho report stage was then passed, and Mr. Asquith introduced tho Bill based on the three resolutions. '■ The Liberals rose, waving hats and handkerchiefs, and cheered themselves hoarse. Meanwhile, prior to one of these divisions, Mr. Asquith had been ruled out of order on Mr. Balfour's intervention. Thero had been a use of the guillotine rulesy and the time allotted did not permit of the introduction of controversial statements regarding what the Government intended, to 'do under certain hypothetical circumstances. ' Ministry's Attitude to Lords and Crown, Mr. Asqnith's opportunity to make his statement now presented itself on tho introduction of the Veto Bill. Speaking to a packed House, every member tenso and eagerly expectant, the Primo Minister made his deferred statement as follows: ■ If the House of Lords does not accept the Government's policy, our duty is to advise the Crown as to the steps needed to give that policy statutory effect during this Parliament; and in the event of our inability to securo such effect, our. duty is to resign or dissolve. In no case would we recommend dissolution except under conditions securing that ; 1 the judgment of the people as expressed at the election shall b» carried into law during tho next Parliament. . I Mr. Asquith's statement was received I wrth prolonged Ministerial cheers. Mr. Balfour in turn was given a great recoption on rising to speak. j Mr. Balfour on the Irish Prlco. 'The Leader of the Opposition described tho Primo Minister's statement as of iirst importance. It marked the culmination of negotiations ensuring the acceptance of the Budget by the Irish Nationalists in the hope of obtaining Home Rule, and giving the Government a 1 Bill on which the Government's reputation was staked. : Tho Government were paying an extravagant price. Mr. Balfour procoeded: In what position has. the Prime Minister put the Crown? I can conceive an extreme case in which a Prime Minister might ask for "guarantees"—ln other'words,.'for; the creation of Peers—but the idea of anticipating his advice by . months,'and announcing that, in unknown, undetermined .circumstances, he would suggest nothing short of the destruction of the i Constitution, is beyond the.idoa . ot duty of any of, the present ■ Prime Minister's predecessors. (Cheers.) He has successfully bought the Irish vote, for the ■ Budgot. The price paid is the price of the dignity of his office,

There was renewed cheering as Mr. Balfour/concluded, and immediately afterwards the Speaker declared the House adjourned. Ministerial' cheering was. renewed. .. Mr. Redmond Enraged—A "Scene" ". [ ■• Averted. Mr. A. S.' Wilson (Unionist member for Holderness, Yorkshire) shouted:— "Cheer John Redmond, your master. Hβ has won." There were angry protests and cries of "Order." Mjv John Redmond then stopped exoitedly towards Mr. Wilson, but several members intercepted and restrained nim. •"The Times" describes Mr. Asquith as having, at Mr. RedmonaVs bidding, drunk tihe cup of humiliation to the dregs. "It is monstrous," the paper adds, "that the Prime Minister should put pressure on the King to give him power to coerce the Second Chamber by a threat of the wholesale creation of Peers. The Crown is being deliberately dragged in, the mire of party confliot. The King is to be subjected, to embarrassment and indignity such as no Sovereign has 'endured sinco the. revolution of 1688" (the overthrow of James H).

[On May 7,. 1832, when the' Reform Bill '■■ was in the House, of Lords,, a hostile amendment: "That the question of enfran-. chisement should precede that of disfranchisement" —was ■ carried . by 35 votes. On May 9 the Ministry resigned, and groat public excitement ensued. The Ministers were induced to resume office on Kins William IV. granting them full power to secure majorities' by the creation of new' Peers. On May 30, in the Lords, the Bill was carried through Committee, and was read a third time, by a majority of 84, on June 4. It received the Royal assent on Juno 7, 1832.]