BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8445, 18 May 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

AN IRISH SENSATION. Received May 17, 9.34 a.m. LONDON, May 16. The National Executive of the National Council of Ireland has resolved that the Government's Irish Council Bill is an insult to the Irish nation. It calls on the Irish members to withdraw from Parliament and return to Dublin to form an assembly which will claim representation at The Hague, and which will press for settlement, by an international court of arbitration, of the dispute between Ireland and England.

COMMON CITIZENSHIP OF THE EMPIRE. Received May 17, 9.34 a.m. { LONDON, May 16. Replying to a question asked in the House of Lords by Earl Russell, Lord Loreburn (Lord High Chancellor) admitted that the great anomalies in the naturalisation laws of (different parts of the Empire were fatal to the idea of unity of citizenship within the British dominions. No more thorny question was imaginable, but a subsidiary conference .would try to ascertain whether it is possible to do anything in the direction of unifying the laws of naturalisation and the common citizenship .of the Empire. A .RIDICULOUS REQUEST. 'Received May 17, 11.51 p.m. LONDON, May 17. In the 'House of Commons, Mr W. H. Pearson, Liberal M.P. for Suffolk, Eye ' division, mentioning that Dr. Smart, delegate from Cape Colony at the Imperial Conference, had addressed a meeting of Conservatives at Leiston, Suffolk, inquired regarding the propriety of a delegate of the , Colonial Conference speaking at a ' political meeting, and asked Mr Winston Churchill to inquire whether Lord Elgin could cce his way to remonstrate with the Cape Govern- I ment for the serious breach of etiquette. (Opposition laughter). j The Speaker said: "Hod the Hon- ! ourable member submitted that question to me, I would not have permitted it. No department of the Government of this country has any control over Ministers of a self-go-verning colony.'' (Opposition cheers).