LIBERALS AND IRISH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 5

LIBERALS AND IRISH.

. o : THE BUDGET. O'BRIEN V. LLOYD-GEORGE IN THE COMMONS. NOT AUTHORISED TO MAKE PROMISES. By TeleerJDh—Press Association—Coßlrtrtt London, April 18. Mr. Wm. O'Brien (Leader of the O'Brionite minority of the Irish Nationalist party) made in the House of Commons to-day his promised statement concerning the interviews with Mr. LloydGeorge (Chancellor of tho Exchequer) and the lattcr's denial. Tho Prince of Wales and many Peers were present. The House was crowded and excited. i Mr. William O'Brien reiterated his statement of the details of interviews between' himself, Mt. Healy, and Mr. Lloyd-George. . ■' Mr. Lloyd-George, replying, admitted that there" had been a second interview, but said he had told Mr. O'Brien that he was not in a.position to make promises. - In the course of his statement to the House of Commons on the subject of the Budget, Mr. Asqnith, Prime Minister, stated that Mr. Lloyd : George had never been authorised to make any concessions to the Irish. '. ' [Mr. O'Brien, in a speech at Cork, said he had: read Mr. Lloyd-George a letter summarising his recollections of the results of. his and Mr. Healy's previous interviews with Mr Lloyd-George, namely: That the increased duties and new taxes in Ireland, and the proposed, revaluation, .might be dropped, and,land purchase in Ireland again expedited, conditional on Mr. Redmond and Mr. Dillon meeting Mr.' O'Brien and Mr. Healy to arrange matters. Mr. O'Brien added that Mr. Lloyd-George did not dispute the acenracy of the recollection. In an interview Mr. Lloyd-George- said he never received the letter' referred to by Mr. O'Brien, nor was it read to him. The statement made therein was grossly untrue, and the affair was a disgraceful breach of confidence.] ■'...

.-' UNWISE TO TRUST HIMSELF ALONE. (Eec. .April 20, 03 a.m.) London, April 19. Mr. O'Brien raado a vehement speech. In the course of his remarks he said: ~ I was unwise to'trust myself alone at the second conference. I made insufficient allowance for the sinuositioa (Psinuosity) of the.. Ministerial conscience." ■ Mr. Lloyd-George 'contended that Ministers were justified in having confidential interviews: with members of all partics.: He accused Mr. O'Brien of publishing the part which suited him because he had a, quarrel with his Irish friends. ■ . '.. REDMOND-ASQUITH MEETING. DENIED- BY THE PRIME MINISTER, London, April 18. Mr. Asqnith denies meeting Mr. Redmond, before his (the Prime Minister's) speech in the House of Commons on Thursday last. [A Press Association cablegram published, on Monday alleged: "Mr. Asquith's speech on Thursday, in which he announced his intentions with regard to the House of Lords, was delivered after a: private interview with Mr. John Redmond,. Leader of. the Irish. Nationalists'."] 'PARTING; OF THE WAYS.;' REDMONDITE NATIONALISTS FOE ..';.;„ THE BUDGET. / THE O'BRIENITES AGAINST. ".'..■ ;'.-■' . London, April 18. ' At a meeting to-day attended by 65 .Irish! Nationalists, Mr. J: E. Redmond it was unanimously agreed to support, the Budget. The O'Bricnits or Independent Irish Nationalists, under the ' leadership of Mr. William O'Brien; have decided to vote against tho Budget. GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET. "IDENTICAL WITH THAT OF 1909;" ■ ;• -London, April 18. ' The House was ( crowded when: Mr. Asqnith stated that.the House of Commons would be asked to sanction a Budget identical with that of 1909, with a clause validating taxes • arroady paid, and amendments making it clear that the duty on the increment value of land does not affect agricultural land, [The exemption of agricultural land was conceded by the Government during the debates on. the Budget last year.] CARRIED BY 93 VOTES. (Eec; April 20, 0.3 a.m.) '■" London, April 19. In the House of Commons the Budget resolution was carried, by 345 votes to .252, after an animated debate, in which some stormy incidents occurred.