Imperial Politics

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 198, 19 February 1914, Page 5

Imperial Politics

CABINET'S POLICY. THE MARCONI TRANSACTIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, February 17. Mr. Churchill, writing to the Liberal candidate for South Buckinghamshire, said the Government were not jingoes or scaremongers, but were working for the abatement of naval and military rivalries. .Meanwhile the licet would be maintained thoroughly. In the House of Lords, Lord M'urTßS of Elibank said that all his transactions had already been disclosed. He admitted an error of judgiient in purchasing American Marconis on bis own account through the company. He was not interested in post office contracts. IJis purchase for the Liberal Party was also an error of judgment, though he regarded it as a pure investment. His colleagues were not aware of the purchase. He did not inform Mr. lllingworth,. who succeeded him'as Liberal Whip, because, owing to the scandal, he preferred to bear the responsibility himself. He admitted his actions tvere not wise, and expressed regret. Lord Amphtill's motion to set up a committee to enquire into Lord Slurray's transactions was postponed at Lord Lansdowne's suggestion. Mr. Bonar Law has written to Major Sir Matthew Wilson, Unionist candidate for Bethnal Creen, stating that the In surance Act had proved a colossal blunder. If the Unionists were returned to office they would appoint a non-poli-tical, impartial committee to consider the whole principle of the Act. also whether a voluntary scheme was desirable. Sixty-seven Nationalists voted with the Government on the Welsh disestablishment division.

IMPERIAL IT.KFEISEXCE. MOTION LOST. Times-Sydney Sun Special Cables. London, February 17. Captain Tyron Moved an amendment to the Address in favor of Imperial preference, without imposing fresh daties on foodstuffs, also the imposition of a moderate duty, not exceeding 10 per cent., to safeguard the stability of productive industries. Mr. Buckmaster stated that the Cabinet was convinced that no solution of the industrial unrest would be found in a change of the system which bfad made Britain rich and strong. Mr. Bonar Law maintained that no fiscal system was applicable to all countries and all limes. He was not advocating protection: he never had—he merely sought preference for their own people. The moment his party attained power it would give the dominions what they asked for. The motion was* lost by 2Si! votes to 201).

OPEN LETTER TO THE I'REMrER. "A BLOODY AND OBSTINATE STRUGGLE." Received 18, 10.13 p.m. London, February IS. As a stout supporter of the Irish cause for 47 years, Mr. Frederic Harbison, in an open letter to Mr. Asquith, describes the Irißh situation as the most formidable crisis that has ever beset a Ministry of living memory. They were face to face with a struggle as bloody and obstinate as the Boer war. •'lts gravity lies," he says "in the fact hat for the first time in modern history violent but disciplined and premeditated defiance of the statute has beei. supported by the whole weight of the Parliamentary Opposition. That fact separates the Ulster movement from any other insurrection within memory. The movement is a kind of religious fanaticism, as hopeless to reason with and as stubborn to crush a? the English Ironsides, the Scotch Covenanters or the Ayrshire O.meronians. If you go full speed ahead, you go to destruction." Mr. Harrison states that

he suggested that Mr. Asquith in the autumn should add a clause to the Home Rule Bill constituting the members elected for Ulster an independent committee to govern the province for an agreed period. 'J*he general election, with its varied programme, would not solve the question, but a referendum of the entire constituencies in the kingdom would settle both the suffrage and Irish questions." • THE HOUSE OE LORDS. RECONSTRUCTION A HEAVY TASK. Received 18, 1U.:1."> p.m. London. February 18. The newspapers are discussing the Westminster Gazettes Indication that the Government will possibly appoint a statutory commission from both parties to recast the Parliamentary Government on a federal basis. It is pointed out that the reconstruction of the House of Lords is beyond the strength of any one party. Stress is laid on the indications that any agreed settlement regarding Ulster in the immediate future can only be transitory.

The Westminster Cazellc agrees that the House of Lord*' problem thould be included.