MR. ASQUITH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 174, 17 April 1919, Page 7

MR. ASQUITH

FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE THE ELECTIONS

THE LIBERAL POLICY

By Telesraph-Preßs Aesociation-Oopyrisit London, April 12. Jlr. Asquith made his first appearance since the elections as tho guest at a dinner given by the Independent Liberals. He declared that tlie manoeuvring of tho December'elections had produced a preponderating Tory majority. "The people are- now realising that it was an entirely artificial business, and constructed a topheavy structure. Bead the results of the recent by-elections. We appear to be witnessing ithe early stages of disillusionment and relapse." The attempt to apply conscription to Ireland, he enid, was disastrous, and was destroying the power and prestige of the constitutional party. It necessitated the retention of 40,000 troops to maintain order. The first condition for a. durable basis of law and order in Ireland was t> alter tlie present system of government. The Peace Conference was engaged in inaugurating a new era of Rational eelf-determination in the vanoiis European communities: but some of these cases, from the standpoint of law and order, presented difliculties compared vith wh'ich those of Ireland were relatively insignificant. The war finance had abundantly justified the governing principle of the British fiscal system. We had contributed a larger proportion of the annual cost from taxation than any Continental Power. It was no secret that the next Budget would embody some form of Imperial preference The Liberal Party, he said, '.va3 anxious as anv other to draw closer the Imperial ties. He hoped that effect would speedily he given to the recommendations of the Dominions Commission. Tariff reformers were at present trying to manipulate preference on tea, wine, and sucn tliincrs, but really they wished for {irottctinn.' "The self-governing colonies were rightly. free to choose their own fiscal systems, and we claimed tho "iime freedom." Extravagance had become the order of the day when there was the greatest need for economy, spelling the (limn of pocinl reform. The govern ing objects of the Liberal policy were as follow: The maintenance of an independent party, resistance to legislation favouring classes or interests; the earliest restoration of political, c-oin-moreial, and personal freedom; self-gov-ernment for Ireland; public economy, combined with the maintenance of 'vcetrade and pursuant to a national minimum of healfli, comfort, culture, and opportunity ; and the establishment of the Leajfuo "of Nations.—Aus.-N.Z. • Cable Assn.