THE LIBERAL POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 253, 23 October 1905, Page 5

THE LIBERAL POLICY.

FOREIGN AND Titin*TLirwM.T. QUESTIONS. SPEECHES BY TWO LEADERS. LONDON,-October 21. j Mr. John Slorfcy, speaking "at Forfar, stated that the next Liberal Government would pursue a rigorous, pacific, rational policy. Personally, he favoured the creating of an Irish Parliament, under the paramount authority of the Imperial Legislature, but he did not expect that the reform of the system of Irish Government ■would be the first measure introduced in the new Parliament. The South African annexation was irrevocable, and full and responsible Government must be given to the new colonies at the earliest opportunity. Sir Edward Grey, in a speech in the city, 3aid the growing friendship between Great Britain and America, the alliance '■ with Japan, and the French agreement, | were three cardinal features of foreign i policy which the Liberals did not wish to see changed. They must remember they could not make new friendships except by backing out of old ones. He anticipated improved relations with Russia, and advocated a better understanding with Germany, without impairing ' our relations with France. He urged- a continuous foreign policy. The war,, he said, might not have ended now unless the alliance with Japan had been renewed. The failure to renew it would have been an example of fickleness and folly, exposing us to universal distrust. The alliance was essentially defensive and pacific. The next House of Commons, he went on to remark, would not be one which would support any Government which showed weakness in regard to the alliance. He added that the Colonial Conference ought to be free and un- i fettered; also on all sides-representative and candid. The present Government, he said, were not in a position to be representative, and he doubted their daring the courage to be candid. j

[The views of Mr. John Morley and Sir Edward Grey, although both are Opposition leadei-a, are in strong contrast on matters 6f Imperial policy. Sir Edward Grey is described as a tc Liberai Imperialist," while Mi , . John Morley is a frank old-school Radical, and was one of the inoet strenuous opponents of the Boer war.]