BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 21 February 1907, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

AX AMBASSADOR'S SALARY

Mlt ASQITTH AND TIII3 JUl.si-l

OUESTJOX. London. In the House of Commons, Mr ]; un . emum (1- .naueial Secretary to the Treasury) stated that the K'ight Hon. ,1. tSryce s salary as Ambassador to Washington is 1)10,000.

llie Right lion. 11. 11. Asquith announces that the Inland Revenue Department was in possession of information suggesting extensive irregularities in connection with dealing in spirits at Tullauiore. Proceedings, would be instituted and a Court of Law would investigate the whole matter. 't'he Times, commenting on Karl Percy's amendment, says that Mr Asipiith might have <]'u<ded his own speeches. The more definite declaration would have put a different complexion Oil the matter, notably those made at Sheffield on .lanuary sth. at I St. Monans oil,lanuary 2.lth, i'JOti.

BRITAIN'S VULNERABILITY

DEBATE IN THE LOBDS,

Londo.v, February It).

A disturbing debate oecurfed iu the House of Lords relative to the risk of invasion

Lord Koberts declared that the blindness of the public to the risk of a sudden invasion—which was almost always carried out without any declaration of war—filled him with absolute despair at our state of unprcparedness. The Earl of Portsmouth (UnderSecretary for War) expressed doubt that Germany or France, in time of peace, would ever be guilty of gross treachery. Lord Koberts thought it possible. Lord Twcedsmouth (First Lord of the Admiralty) deprocated an alarmist hypothesis.