IN THE COMMONS. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1908, Page 7

IN THE COMMONS. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR.

SYMPATHETIC REFERENCES; THE DISORDERS IN IRELAND. (Received January 31, 9.3 a.m.) LONDON, ZOth January. Tho AddrcsG-in-Rcply was moved by Mr. 11. C. Lchmann, member for Harbcrough, and socondad by Mr. Howell Davies, M.P. for Bristol. Mr. A. J. Balfour, after a sympa-i thctic reference to tho absence of Sir" H. Campbell-Bannerman, the Prime Minister, paid a tribute to the late Sir j. L. Walton. Doaling with the Speech, Mr. Balfour caid he feared the absence of safeguards of British trcdo in Persia, and enquired as to the protection of women and children in the Now Hebrides. Ho feared tho length of the Government's Bills implied a limitless use of the closure. If minorities must suffer, it was tho duty of a good achninistra' tion to s?o that thoy did not suffer from, cattle-driving, being chot iv. the legs, or boycotted bo that they were unable to live or to be buried. Mr. Birrell recently almost suggested the founding on the failure to maintain law and order in Ireland a case for a forthcoming Home Rule resolution. Such a thing, said Mr. Balfonr, was utterly repugnant to the best feelings of our countrymen. .MR. ASQUITH'S REPLY. THE AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA. DEFENCE OF MR. BIRRELL. (Received January 31, 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, 30th January. I Tho Right Hon. H. Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, aaid a real and definite agreement with Russia waa removing the sources of danger to peace, which was so important that the agreement was justified 1 , even if it were shown that in this or that direction Russia obtained an advantage. H« believed there wa3 adequate safeguard for British trade. Continuing, Mr. 'Asquith said there was good reason to hope for an early agreement in the Transvaal, which would remove all just causes of Indian grievances. Further instructions < for framing future regulations regarding treatment of natives in the New Hebrides had been sent ' to the commissioners, who would study on the spot the best mode of realising what was necessary. Mr. Asquith indignantly repudiated Mr. Balfour's charge against Mr. Birrell. No Chief Secretary would ask for exceptional powers to deal with the present disorders.