BRITISH POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12505, 18 May 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THF: EDUCATION BILL. SPEECH BY THE EARL OF PORTSMOUTH. United Press Association—By Electric Teh-graph—Copyright. (Received May 18th, 12.44 a.m.) LONDON, May 17. The Earl of Portsmouth, Under-Sec-retary for War, speaking at Dover, said that unquestionably tho two main principles of Mr Birrell's Bill affirmed the unprecedentedly decisive expression of opinion given by the general election.

If the Liberals, with a majority of over 200, allowed the Tory and Episcopal Party in the House of Lords to repudiate the nation's deliberately-ex-pressed voice, they would stand connoted of political sterility. If the extreme policy of uncompromising hostility to tho Bill continued, tho Government was prepared to accept the ohallenge. The certain issue of a general election fought over tho Education Bill would be to strengthen the cause of Disestablishment. Ho added that while adhering to tho main principles of the Bill, the Government would approach any reasonable amendmeet with on open mind.

Lord Hobhouso presided over a conference of sixty Liberal members, who are members of the Established Church. It was resolved, while, maintaining tho Bill's leading principles, to support such reasonable concessions in matters of dotail as would promote tho safe passage and smooth working of tho Bill.

A great meeting of City Churchmen, nt which Mr Balfour and Sir .Edward Clarke were the chief speakers, protested against the Bill. There were only five _i_sentients.