BRITISH POLITICS

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1387, 23 February 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS

■IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Byj Electric Telegraphs—Per Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February, 21. {Tho opinion m London is .that it is pot likely. Lord Dudley’s resignation Will be accepted,, The consensus of opinion is that he is popular with all parties, . The Daily, Mail says that Mr Balfour is expected to make a statement enabling Lord Dudley, to remain and contin,ue hi[s good ,work, Mr Redmond’s amendment comDlains of tho system of government in Ireland, the opposition to the nation’s will gi[ving no' voice in the management pi .their, own affairs,, ineffective, extravagant, and productive of universal .discontent and unrest. , ~ ■ He declared .that, the Nationalists were necessarily independent of any, British Government not making Home Rule a cardinal point in their programme,, Received 10 p.m., Feb, 22-j

The debate on, Me Redmond's amendment was resumed. In response to the Unionists’ question as .tq whether theiE programme included 1-itome Rule. Sir H- C. Bannerman declared that he always supported and always would support a fundamental alteration of the system of Irish Government. He added that the Cabinet were dissatisfld with the situation inasmuch as they assented .to. the appointment' of Sic Anthony Mac Donnell rather as a colleague than as an under-secretary, in order that he could go beyond the functions of an ordinary civil servant. When did his action become blameworthy ? He took soundings on_ behalf of the .Government among unionists; to ascertain the extent it was desirable to go. If he was hlameable, the Viceroy and Mr Wyndham were also biameable. Me Balfour, replied that when the vjmef Secretary, was in the Cabinet, the Viceroy was not respontihlo for the government of Ireland. It was true that Bond Dudley disousseu the matter with, Sir Anthony, Mac Donnell, for he understood from MacDonnell that Mr Wyndbam was, aware of what was occurring, and believed, erroneously, that Mr Wyndham was acquainted wieh the project. Received 10,47 p.m., Feb. 22.

Amid cries of produce the cpr- ! respojidence,” Mr Balfour ridiculed the potion that MacDoimcll had pjiven authority outside his office to initiate policies whereon Mr W.ynilliam and the Government were not consulted. Ho defended Mr Wyndham against the discreditable charge of concealing the truth.

Thfi amendment was negatived by 286 io 236.

I _ Several Irish and a few English UnionI ists abstained from voting. Received 12,18 a.m., Feb. 23. London, Feb 22. 1 _ Lord Dudley’s donial that ho is resigning has been warmly welcomed in Ireland. The Times’ Dublin correspondent reports that well-informed quarters believe the resignation will not be long delayed, though not made ns the direct result of recent disclosures.