THE BRITISH CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 980, 22 November 1910, Page 5

THE BRITISH CRISIS.

MR. ASfIUITH AND HOME AN OMINOUS SILENCE. THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT., By Telegraph-Prcsß Association-Copyright. (Rec. November 21, U.O p.m.) • London, November 21. There is much comment in Ireland on Mr. Asquith's silence on the question of Home Rule in his speech on Saturday. His critics remark that unless further light ia forthcoming Mr. O'Brien will bo greatly strengthened, and will, be ready to declare that guarantees havo not obtained; that Mr.. Redmond had received no definite promise as regards a Homo Rule Bill; and that the only certainty, if tho Liberals are returned, is the passing of a Budget which is unpopular practically with all, classes in Ireland.

Mr. Koir Hardie, speaking at Bradford, said he had read Mr. Asquith's speech in order. to find justification for a dissolution, but the. only reason assigned was the. failure- of tho Veto Conference with the Tories. In his opinion the election intended to' hang up the House of Lords' question until after tho Coronation. Unless the Osborne judgment was reversed tho Labour party would oppose Libcrala in seventy-eight constituencies.

: Mr. 1 , . B. T. Money-Coutts, Liberal candidate for East Hampshire in 1906, has seceded from tho Liberal party, as he considers there is no room under the present policies for a moderate Liberal and Free-trader. , Mr. Redmond, Leader of the Nationalists, in a statement to tho press declared that the dissolution had cbme -unexpectedly, and that. the time for preparing for the elections was short. Tho Irish National Directory would be summoned at tho earliest moment to arrange the best policy for dealing with the emergency.

STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT

REVERSAL OF OSBORNE JUDGMENT. ... MR. ASQUITH'S INTENTIONS. -. (Rec. November 21, 9.30 p.m.) -. London, November. 21.. "The -Times". states that Mr".- Asquith will announce to-morrow that the Government's policy includes the reversal of the OsUorne judgment, qualified only by; a stipulation that the pledge exacted from Labour candidates shall not be enforced.

A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

LETTER FROM'MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Rep. November 21, 9.30 p.m.) London, November 21. Mr. Joseph Chamborlain, in a letter to Mr. Balfour, Leader of tho Opposition, , re-echoes : Mr. . Balfour's Nottingham speech as embodying great national and Imperial reforms. Ho wishes, the Opposition success in its. fight for freedom, union, and' progross. SPEECH BY MR. ASO.UITH; TORIES' NEBULOUS PLANS. London, November 20. Mr. 'Asquith, in his speech at Jho National Liberal Club,, said tho : Tories were determined not .to'faco the elections with the incubus of the Lords, on thoir backs. Something called a Second Chamber, with ft coat of thin democratic yar-. nish, must be substituted, consisting of a nebulous body of uncertain size and undefined proportions—hereditary peers, officially qualified peers, and others chosen by somebody, somewhere, and eornehow. Tho Opposition expected. the country to vote for what to all intents and purposes was a ghost:. . .-■• : . . The Government's plan created an immediately workable instrument to >settle deadlocks;, it. was the only plan before tho country which even pretended to meet the urgent necessities of tho case. Great social and economic ideals could not wait; therefore, ho asked for a .renewal of confidence, and -with united forces and disciplined: energy tho Liberals would make the longest step of a lifetimes for tho Teal enfranchisement of tho people. Mr. Asquith,did not mention the Homo Rule question. THE WRITING ON THE WALL',- '. VIVACIOUS LIBERAL SPEAKER. London, November-20. ■ Mr. C. F. Hasterman, Under-Sccretary to the Home Office, speaking at Stratford,, said , the campaign would bo aehort and severe one. The Government 6tood for the people—first, last, and all. the time!. Tho Lords saw tho writing on tho wall. They, (the Lords) disliked allusions to peers who were, bankrupt, who had married actresses, or who brought more money than Mr. Redmond into the country, and therefore said "Let us remove these. unhappy peoplo from tho House,and only leave ■ sound democraticallyminded, popularly-approved peoplo ■'■ liko Lords Milner and Curzon." (Laughter.), LIBERAL PROGRAMME REVISED. SIDE ISSUES DROPPED. London, November 20. The National Liberal Federation is holding a conference at Hull. The programme has been revised, -various resolutions being dropped. It is proposed to concentrate tho entire business, on tho 6inglo issue of the Lords. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,, in a letter . dealing with the Berwick election . (Sir Edward sits for Berwiokj, declares it is necessary to impress tho Opposition with the need of yielding. • ■ ■ . ■. . . REFORM FROM WITHIN. . MOTION IN THE HOUSE-OF LORDS. London, November 20. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, a former Conservative Minister, has given notice in tho House of Lords that ho will movo a motion in favour of a referendum being taken in the event of an irreconcilable difference between tho two Houses. Lord Hcneago (Unionist) has given notice of a motion urging redistribution of scats in Britain and Ireland. "NO TIME FOR SQUABBLING." A LABOUR APPEAL. London, November 20. Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald, Labour M.P., in a letter to' his Leicester constituents, says:—"Thin is no time for equabbliog over a second election. Wo must close our ranks for the final contest against tho Lords' veto.".