KING AND COMMONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 250, 15 July 1908, Page 7

KING AND COMMONS.

mm PARTY AFFAIR, MR. THORNE ATTACKS ROYALTY. . ' NO ROOM FOR IT.' ) (BT TELEGBAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. i London, July 13. Mr, Will Thome, Labour M.P. for Wes Ham, speaking at Victoria Park, denied, tin f King's right to' interfere-with tho utterance! of members of tho House of Commons, eithe: inside or outside Parliament He added that ho hoped tho timo woult come quickly when thoro would bo, no roon for kings and queens. Tho peoplo couic • govern themselves better without them, 1 AGAINST WINDSOR PARTIES. (Rec. July 14, 11.20 p.m.) London, July 14. Mr. G- N. Barnes .(Labour member foi 1 tho Blackfriars division of Glasgow, and a groat Trade Unionist) in a speech at Porthcawl, referred to the Omission of Mr. Keir Hardip's namo from tho Windsor garden party list, and to the consequent action of tho Labour party in requesting that their names be Withdrawal from the list. Mr. Barnes said he nover attended the King's garden parties. ,Ho believed that any Labour leader attending such functions must be made softer and less efficient. ANGLO-RUSSIAN POLICY: SIR E. GREY'S DEFENCE. _ During the debate on the Reval visit, -Mr. Iliorne was rebuked by the Speaker, for asking .whether the Government acquiesced' "in ,the brutal murders aud outrages that have occurred in.Russia." No moro effective reply to the hot-headed counsels of the Labour members could be dovised than that made by the Secretary, for Foreign Affairs (Sir E. Grey) in tho House of Commons on June •! The Minister said ' influence exercised by previous visits /n? paid abroad has been : beneficial. (Ulcers.) Sir Charles' Hardirige (Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign ■ Office) is going with the ICing, but in so far as ho takes any part in discussing diplomatic affairs he does it undor instructions from mo. Cabinet responsibility is. fully maintained. ■ 'No -negotiations are on foot for any newtreaty or convention with tjie Russian Government, and none will be initiated during this visit. . But • that tho visit will have a' political effect, and is wished to havo a political effect, is perfectly true.- - Everything in Asia since the Anglo-Russian Convention has gone to, demonstrate that, had wo refused to negotiate with .Russia, • tho events which have takon placo in Persia and on the Indian frontier would have brought tho two eountries measurably, nearer a conflict." ( Hear, hear.") A full House listened attentively as ho told how tho Royal visit was intended to empliasiso tlie fact that the' two,'countries-'woro*now on friendly terms. It had been suggested that Russia should be -kept at arm's • fength-boy-co 11 > conse 3uonces of such a policy would bo disastrous to both countries. Tho Governmont choso tho policy of agreement, not only to secure poaco, but, to avoid what uimht bo-a- cause of the danger of conflict. Tho other policy was to liavj no ftgrooroont, and to push things, to the point of withdrawal of diplomatic relations. . "Botween , J,he policy of no convention and pushing things to tho point of tho withdrawal of diplomatic representatives and a policy of agreement, lam for'a policy of agrooment," cried the Foreign Secretary, in a' passionato burst of words. He stood erect, his face slightly flushed, a -strikingly dramatic figure. Tlio House was strung to silence. "I am' for a fair and loyal attempt between the'two countries to work togotlior in matters in which our interests touch. I stand by thnt. If tlie House rejects it; or makes it impossible, I fall with it." . A burst ,of cheoring swept tho Chamber. "The Government's' policy,"- said Sir Edward, 'leads to 'peace, tho alternative policy to war." - • ,:, ...... . . , "No, no," cried • Labour members, while Liberals cheered heartily. '■ " ' ' The Royal visit was long'overdue arid could not bo delayed without marked discourtesy. To make a distinction botween. this visit and those which - had preceded it to other foreign Sovereigns on the ground that we did not approve of the conditions of the internal affairs m Russia would be to make the-visit-a slight and an insult. - ' 1 • ; "If we wero to adopt that attitude," he said warmly, ''we might as well tear up the AngloRussian Convention, and as for continuing tho discussion of Macedonian reforms, which has already advanced some way, it would be ludicrous." . He believed that the visit would be welcomed by all tho moderate eloments in Russia. There were two'exceptions to tho general opinion-in Russia, to .be found in the revolutionary party of violence and the reactionary party of vio-' lence. A loan .was no part of the negotiations. Ho knew definitely that the condition of tlvjngs in Russia improving. ,Ho did not bpl'ievo that any country in the world would in thedong run be less liberal and less progressive by being on good terms with Great Britain. Mr. Balfour, referring to Sir E. Grey's "dignified and able speech," declared -that the Unionists would support the Government in the matter. . # The minority of fifty-nine in the division included twenty-two Nationalists, the Labour party, including Mr. Steadman, and the following Liberals:—Sir R. Cromer, Dr. Cooper, Messrs. H. Watt.-H. Lea. Cleland,'Byles, A. Ponsonhy,' J. D. Hope, R. Lehmann, A., H. Scott, B. S. Straus, G. Harwood, Hemmerde, Schwann, and Rose. .