CARSON AND HOME RULE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 180, 30 July 1913, Page 5

CARSON AND HOME RULE.

MR. ASQUTTH'S PLEDGES. ("Sydney Sun™ Special Service.) LONDON, July 29. Speaking at Belfast last night, Sir Edward Carson, K.C., said he did not believe there would be a general election before the Home Rule Bill was presented to His Majesty, because the Asquith party was bound hand and foot by a pledge to Mr -Tohn Redmond l Leader of the Nationalists) in writing.

A similar suggestion to that made by Sir Edward Carson was voiced in the House of Commons last month.

Mr Bonar Law. speaking in favour of Mr A. J. Balfour's motion to withdraw the Home Rule Bill on the second reading debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday, June ] 1 last, said-—"The only reason the Government had not gone to the country was that they feared to do so. or possibly at the time of the Budget a bargain was made between Asquith and Redmond. If there is such a bargain the country should know it."

Mr John Redmond: Does the right hon. gentleman say that I ever said that?

Mr Bonar Law: I say the hon. gentleman said there was a bargain.. Docs he deny it?

Mr John Redmond: Perhaps the right hon. gentleman will quote my words.

Mr Bonar Law: I have quoted them before in the presence of the hon. gentleman and he did not deny them. In these circumstances I do not think I am bound always to qtiote him. Does the hon. and learned gentleman deny that there was a bargain ?

Mr Redmond: I do not know what the right hon. gentleman means by a bargain. In the sense in which he is using the words there was no bargain.

Mr Asquith: I wish to say, speaking for myself and the Government, that there never was any bargain of any sort or kind.