IRISH COUNCIL BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2097, 4 June 1907, Page 1

IRISH COUNCIL BILL

LORD CREWE’S ATTITUDE

Lord Crewe is actually, if not nom-

inally, the Government's leader in the Houso of Lords. He expressly stated, in a speech at Doncaster earlier in the session, that the Government’s Bill (not then published) was “not incompatible with a larger policy,” nor did ho see liow “any measure giving a furthor share to tlio Irish people in the management A their own affairs could very well bo incompatible with an advance at some future day, if tlio people of the three kingdoms dosired to see that advance made.” Concerning which a newspaper critic commented: “Lord Crewe though a member of the Ministry tho Scad of which has already committed ’’imsolf to the ‘larger policy’ in re-

;ard to Ireland, is showing what oo’ks like a proper filial respect for tho susceptibilities of tlio. Earl of Rosebery, whoso son-in-law ho is. Lord Rosebery’s first weakening on the question of Home Rule was iiiuicated, it will be remembered, by his references to the necessity of convinc-

■ng tho ‘predominant partner.’ Though differing in terms, that is not very different in essence from convincing ‘the three kingdoms.’ ” Other members of the Government, while denying that the Bill is Home ltnle, have affirmed ,like Lord Crewe, that : t is not incompatible with a future advance in that direction; and have argued that no Reform Bill could be mtroduced without being open to the criticism that it is an instalment to-

wards Home Rule. For instance, the .ord Chancellor, Lord Loreburn,

Rated in the House of Lords: “Just as it was said all roads led to Rome, io lie said that whatever change was .made Ireland could not be touched without a step towards Home Rule being taken—the Home Rule of a subordinate Parliament, and not of a separate Parliament, which latter lie would never support.” Mr. Redmond, Leader of the Nationalists, has declared that nothing will settle the Home Rule question but .a free Constitution for Ireland, such as that granted to the Transvaal.