Beyond The Dominion

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 214, 6 December 1909, Page 3

Beyond The Dominion

POIFONINr; BROTHER OFFICERS

Vienna December 1. The motive of Lieut. Hofrichen, the Austrian army lieutennat who sent packets ofcyanide labelled nerve cure to 40 staff officers, from the effects bis own promotion,which the new staff appointments threatened.

A CORPORALS' METHOD. Paris, December 1.

A corporal of Hussars stationed at Verdum, near Metz borrowed largely from members of his squadron. He was unable to repay the loans, and, fearing the consequences, put cyanide of potassium into the mess soup. Eighty of the men narrowly escaped death.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

London, December 2.

In tbe House of Commons today the Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, was received with loud Ministerialist cheers when he gave notice to move tomorrow : "That the action of the House of Lords, in refusing to [ass into law tbe financial provision made by the House of Commons for the services of tbe year is a breach of tbe Constitution and a usurpation of the rights of the Commons."

The Unionist leaders have resolved not to propose an amendment, but to give a direct vote against Mr Asquith's resolution.

After Mr Asquith's speech, Mr Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1903 to 1905 in Mr Balfour's Ministry, will express the views of tbe Opposition, and Mr Arthur Henderson those of the Labour Party. The Nationalists will not participate in the divsiion on tbe resolution

It is generally agreed, irrespective of party, that in a crisis of such gravity a prolonged discussion on the constitutional issue would be out of place. The Marquisof Laosdowne, Leader of tbe Opposition in. tbe House of Lords, bas received telegrams from many Unionist associations throughout tbe country promising to support the Lords.

The prorogation of the House takes place at tbe conclusion of tbe speeches tomorrow.

Tbe "Times'" declares that Mr Asquith's serolution embodies tbe doctrine of tbe last four years, but goes much beyond any previous assertion of privileges, and by implication denies tbe power or right of tbe Lords to have a voice in any legislation tacked to the Budget. It is only incidentally that the Lords refused supplies this year. What has really been done is to refer to the country a quantity of legislation involving novel principles, denying the right of appeal to the courts of law, and establishing an expensive bureaucracy with arbitrary inquisitorial powers.

Mr Joseph Chamberlain, in a message to the tariff demonstration at Sboreditcb, said he was counting on the democracy of the East to help in the great struggle before the country. RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYED. London, December 2. Tbe Lord Mayor of Newcastle-on-Tyne has inaugurated a fund for the relief of tbe unemployed. He states tbat there are 40,000 sufferers from the present depression. COLONIAL FRUIT. London, December 2. At the Horticultural Society's Colonial Exhibition the New Zealand Government was awarded silver Knigbtian medals for fruits and preserves. LORD FISHER'S SUCCESSOR. London, December 2. It is officially announced that Admiral Sir Arthur Knyvett Wilson will succeed Lord Fisher as First Sea Lord of tbe Admiralty on January 25. Mr Asquith, with King Edward':; approval has requested Ix>rd Fisher to continue membership of tbe Committee of Imperial Defence after vacating the poet. CADBURY'S LIBEL ACTION. London, December 2. Cadbury Brothers are suing the "Standard" for libel published on the 28th September, 1908, commenting on Cadbury's delay in ceasing to purchase cocoa from Principe, St. Thomas. Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, in his evidence, stated that Messrs Cadbury asked him to take steps to stop the scandal in 1906, and he then advised them not to agitate publicity until the Foreign Office had approached Portugal.