HOME RULE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1218, 10 March 1914, Page 3

HOME RULE.

THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE. WILL THE KING EXERCISE IT ? London, March 7. It is rumoured that the King has intervened in regard to the Home Rule Bill. The report was at first dismissed as incredible, but it is now universally cture ■: among politicians aud is generally accepted. His Majesty insisted that a general election shall immediately follow the passing of the measureIt is said that the King informed Mr Asquith that if this course was not voluntarily pursued his Majesty would exercise his prerogative and dissolve Parliament, The report has caused hitter and unconcealed circles. Such a step will bring the Crown for the first time in modern history into direct conflict with the dominant political party. The Times declares that it cannot be emphasised too strongly that the predominant feeling on both sides of the House is strongly adverse to any association of the royal name with the critical stage through which national politics are now passing.

REFERENDUM IN IRELAND. London, March 7. Mr Asquith’s expected offer of a plebiscite to all the counties of Ireland is attributed to his desire to satisfy the Nationalists, give an appearance of uniformity, and nominally that no special treatment will be accorded Ulster. Newspapers continue to affirm that Mr Asquith is determined that every Irish County shall decide by referendum whether to remain outside the jurisdiction of the Irish Parliament for five years. It is expected that Mr Bonar Lav and Mr Redmond will follow Mr Asquith to-morrow, and the debate will then be adjourned for a fortnight. It is understood that Mr Lloyd George conducted negotiations with the Irish Party. Messrs Redmond, Devlin and O’Connor reluctantly agreed to Antrim, Down, Londonderry and Armagh remaining out of the Bill. The Nationalist majorities at Tyrone and Fermanagh will be small, but sure. The Union Deferce League has received application forms for 1,000,000 signatures for the British declaration.

LORD SELBORNE’S VIEWS. London, March 8. Lord Selborne, speaking at Darlington, said the present crisis had arisen because half the country tried to trample upon the convictions of the other half. That was impossible in a democracy. He rather favoured devolution, because it would cripple the party machine and re arrange public opinion In Britain in a less artificial manner. There was no chance of peace if the baptism of Home Rule was in blood.