AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16364, 8 November 1918, Page 8

AFFAIRS IN BRITAIN

THE IRISH QUESTION. <By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright ) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 7. In the House of Commons, Mr O'Connor moved that Britain should not attend a peace conference until it applied the principle of self-determination of small nations to Ireland. Mr Asquith urged that before Britain onto red the conference she should givo an assurance that Ireland would not be behind any of our self-governing Dominions. Mr Shorti, Chief Secretary for Irej land, said tnat the failure in Ireland was shaml by the Irish as well as the English. He asked the Nationalists to tell the House what settlement they would accept. Mr Bonar Law said he had listened to Mr Asquith with amazement. It was preposterous to claim that the. British Empire should not take part in a peace conference until it had settled the Irish question. The conference had no right to deal with .the matter. . The motion was altered to read: — "That in view of the approach of the peace conference, the Irish question should bo Settled, in accordance with President _ Wilson's principle of selfdetermination, for which "the Allies aro ostensibly fighting." The .motion was rejected by 195 votes to 115.

SEIZURE OP HIGH EXPLOSIVE. (Australian and N.is. Cable Association.) (Received November 7th, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, November 6. In the House of Commons during; the debate on the Irish question, Mr Shortfc said that enough high explosive had been seized in one of the Republican Brotherhood headquarters last week to blow up Belfast and Dublin. He added that the physical force party were comiag to the front again aud had prepared fresh acta of violence of a most serious description. Though the numbers of the Brotherhood were small they were extremely dangerous. (Received November 7.th, 8.5 p.ta.) LONDON, November 6. In the House of Commons during the debate on Mr O'Connor's motion, Ml* Bonar Law declared that the Irish question was a domestic affair. The British people would not tolerate anybody outside dictating a settlement. WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT. (Australian and N«Z. Cable Association.) (Received November 7th, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, November 6. When the Bill enabling women to sit in the House of Commons reaches the I House of Lords the question will be raised of enabling peeresses in their own right to sit in the Upper House. | They number twenty. THE! BOYCOTT OF Mil HENDERSON (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 6. The Seamen's Union has withdrawn its embargo, and Mr Henderson will shortly make a fresh start for the Continent. Mr Havelock Wilson, as a result of the Trade Union Congress. action, promised that there would be no further interference.