BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2036, 22 March 1907, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

LONDON, March 20. In the House of Lords, Lord Ampthill asked if the Imperial Conference would discuss the question of disabilities of British Indians and their future treatment by the colonies. Lord Elgin said that while it was the Government’s duty to show they were national protectors, yet they were bound to consider the self-go-verning colonies and not to present a strong feeling; nevertheless, he hoped the subject would be discussed, at any rate at a subordinate conference.

Lord Lansdowne considered the question most difficult, owing to two conflicting currents of opinion. He hoped care would be taken to secure proper treatment of Indian subjects, to prevent tlieir humiliation or being deprived of their rights. Ho added that for some reasons it would be better if the subjects were not officially presented for consideration at the Confernce.

The Duke of Devonshire, addressing the Unionist Freetrade Club, said the Colonial Conference was safer in the hands of the Liberals than the Unionists, as colonials could appreciate a clearly expressed policy, and there would be no chance of misunderstanding which there might have been if after three years’ tariffite agitation the colonials found they have been summoned here simply to negotiate on the basis of existing duties,, in which case they would have thought they had been brought here on a fool’s errand. In view of grave constitutional questions impending, lie deplored the increasing recklessness and anarchy in the Unionists’ ranks. The dutv to unite was clear, considering the indirect attacks that were being made on the legislative union of Britain and Ireland. It was dangerous as, or more dangerous than, direct attack.

ARMED ATTACK ON BANK. THE ROBBERS CAPTURED. Received T 0.28 p.m. March 21. JOHANNESBURG, March 21. Two men armed with revolvers attcnijitcd to hold up the --.Harrison street branch of the National Bank of South Africa in Johannesburg. The officials returned the fire and shot one man in the mouth. He was promptly overpowered. Ho is .not expected to recover. The other man was arrested. FRENCH CONVICTS. ASSURANCE FROM FRANCE. Received 9.55 p.m. March 21. LONDON, March 21. In the House of Commons Mr. Runciman informed Sir Harold Vincent that France had received the representations regarding New Caledonia in a most friendly spirit, verbally stating that it was not intended at present to renew the system of sending convicts thither. THE JENA DISASTER. Received 10.28 p.m. March 21. PARIS, March 21. In the French Chamber of Deputies the Minister of Marine announced that the Senate had accepted the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry into the Jena explosion. He declared that a committee of officers was inclined to attribute the disaster to a short circuit, not to decomposition of the ammunition. He added that the ammunition had been overhauled in Septemdor.