CLAIM TO A PEERAGE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 5

CLAIM TO A PEERAGE.

LORD CURZON'S POSITION. PRIME MINISTER CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION. APPEAL TO IRISH PEERS. DT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTIHGHT. (Roc. Dec. 30, 9.50 p.m.) London, December 30. With tho warm support of the Duke of Aborcorn and the Marquis of Londonderry, Lord Curzon, in -a letter to the Irish Peers, agrees to stand for the vacancy in the Houso of Lords caused by the death of Lord Kilmitino. He explains that tho strain of his work as Viceroy of India prevents his seeking a seat in the House of Commons, and adds that ho is debarred from entering tho House of Lords by ordinary channels through the refusal of tho Primo Minister (Sir Henry Campbell-Banucrman) to allow him to sit with all the other ex-Viceroys of India.on those benches. The "Daily News" says that Lord Curzbn's letter is amazing. If Lord Curzon haj not asked for an English Peerage, ho has no grievance. If ho has asked for one, 1m would have done well to keep his grievance to himself. ■ " The Times " considers that Lord Curzon's claims to a seat in the House of Lords are too clear to need argument. When he aocoptod the Vice-Royalty of India his ambition was to return to tho Houso of Commons. In view of that intention an Irish peorago was conferred on hihi instead of, as was originnlly intended, a Peerage of the United Kingdom. It would, "The Times" adds, have been a graceful and becoming act on tho part of Sir Henry Cnmpbcll-Bannorman to havo ncceded to tho natural and reasonable representations advanced in favour of allowing Lord Curzon to sit in the Houso of Lords. Tho paper trusts that the Irish Peers will rcstoro to public life a man of eminence whom Sir Henry Campboll-Jknncrman shuts out. ■'<-.■ Lord Kilmnine, who, in 1890, was elected by tho other Irish Peers to sit in tho House of Lords'.as a representative Peer, committed suicide in Pariß last month by jumping from a window, in the presence of his wife. Lord Curzon, who, as the Hon. G. N. Curzon, was a Consorvativo merubor of the House of Commons from 1888 to 1898', being Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1895 to 1893, in 1899 liecamo Viceroy of India, and hold that position till 1905. He Was olevatcd to the Irish Peerage as Baron Kedleston, but is not a representative Peer. The Conservatives have beon eagerly awaiting the re-entry' into Parliament of their Indian Pro-Consul.