CRISIS RELAXES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 755, 2 March 1910, Page 5

CRISIS RELAXES.

$ VETO BEFORE REFORM TEMPORARY CALM. THE RESOLUTIONS--WHAT AFTER? By Telocraph-Press Aseociation-Oopyrieht London, February 28. When tho House of Commons met today, speculation as to the amount of support that the Radicals would give to the amendment moved by Sir J. H. Dnlziol (Scottish Liberal), and as to whether the Irish Nationalists would vote for it; Was put an end to by the amendment being ruled out by the Speaker. The amendment was as follows: — "That inasmuch as the electorate has given no mandate for reform of the House of Lords, the House of Commons declines to grant facilities for the discussion of a resolution having this object in view." The Prime Miniater, Mr. Asquith, announced that he intended to call members of the House of Commons together in time for consideration of the Finance Bill on March 24. On March 29 he would move a resolution excluding the House .of Lords from the domain of finance, and declaring that its sphere of legislation as regards the veto shall be limited to the lifetime of a singlo Parliament. These constitutional changes would be without prejudice to other reforms in a subsequent year. If the resolutions were accopted by the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith added, a Bill would he introduced to give effeot tp their operative part, but with? out waiting for the passage of the Bill the resolutions would be sent to the House of Lords so as to bring, the main issue to a trial of conclusion. Mr. J. E. Redmond, Leader of the Nationalist party, reiterated his demand that Mr. Asquith should ask the Throne for guarantees. SEPARATION OP ISSUES'. HUSH APPEASED. BUT THE ULTIMATE OUTLOOK IS ' BAD. CABINET AND CHOW. '" (Eec. March 1, 10.57 pjn.) , London, March 1. The Parliamentary correspondent of 'The Times" says that Cabinefs decision in severing the limitation of the House of Lords* veto on ordinary legisla-' tion from reform of the Lords has appeased the Nationalists and has temporarily ended the' crisis. But the Government, are riding for a fall; they are hopelessly discredited. The correspondent adds that Mr. Asquith is aware that if the House of Commons adopt the resolutions the Government will have no more ground than fore for submitting to the King the preposterous request that he should strain the prerogative . beyond all precedent merely to please a faction, LORDS' ATTITUDE TO THE VETO RESOLUTIONS. ME. BALFOUR'S CRITICISM. CRec. March 1, 10 p.m,) London, March 1. At the sitting of the House of Commons to-day, the' Prince of Whiles was.' again present. The Lords' Gallery was crowded; I .■.-.■■ . After a strenuous debate, the Government's motion to take all the time of the House of Commons till Easter was agreed tp without a division. The speeches of the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, and the Chancellor of the Exohequer, Mr. Lloyd-George., showed that the Budget would not be brought forward until the resolutions dealing . with the House of Lords were carried. Mr. Lloyd-George declared that unless the Government were able to ensure that their proposals would become, law they would quit office. The Government stand or fall by their pledges. It was impossible to ask for the exercise of the Royal prerogative until it was known whether the House of Lords would reject the principle of ensuring the predominance of the will of the House of Commons within the lifetime of a single Parliament. The Leader of the' Opposition, Mr. Balfour, .ridiouled the idea of asking the Lords to assent to the practical abolition of their House until another was oreated; The' Government's sole concern in drafting the resolutions was how to keep the Cabinet together.